In a shocking revelation, government quarters in Bhubaneswar, meant for public servants, have been illegally occupied and transformed into commercial hubs, ranging from convention halls to fruit warehouses and furniture factories.
The General Administration (GA) Department and the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Division, despite being aware of the issue, had remained silent until a recent joint operation exposed the extent of the misuse.
On Tuesday, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), along with other agencies, initiated a large-scale eviction drive to reclaim these properties, sealing seven quarters on the first day and signalling a broader crackdown.
The illegally occupied quarters, primarily located in the Unit-2 area near Rajmahal Square and the road leading to the Master Canteen, were found to be hubs for various unauthorised activities. Some occupants had converted these spaces into conference rooms and catering businesses, charging hefty rents, while others operated fruit warehouses, furniture manufacturing units, and even cement storage facilities.
Reports also surfaced of Bangladeshi nationals residing in some of these quarters, raising concerns about security and oversight. Middlemen, exploiting the vacant state of these properties, were allegedly renting them out for as much as Rs 10,000 per month per quarter, reaping significant profits.
The eviction drive, conducted by a joint team comprising the BDA, Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), WATCO, GA Department, Commissionerate Police, R&B Division, and Public Works Department, targeted quarters that had been locked from the outside but were being used for illicit purposes. Initial investigations revealed that approximately 90 government quarters in Bhubaneswar remain under illegal occupation.
On Tuesday, seven quarters, including VA-35/1, 2, 3, 4, VA-22/3, 4, and VA-24/2, were sealed after being forcibly vacated and secured with new locks. Unauthorised electricity and water connections were also disconnected during the operation.
The misuse of these quarters stems from their prolonged neglect. In 2023, the GA Department identified 210 quarters in Unit 2 and nearby areas for renovation. However, the lack of maintenance and oversight left these properties vulnerable, allowing unscrupulous individuals to break locks, occupy the spaces, and lease them out for profit. Some occupants were found living with their families, while others ran businesses, such as bamboo product manufacturing linked to shops near Rajmahal Square. One woman, who had been renting a quarter for two months after paying an advance, expressed distress over the sudden eviction, questioning where she would go.
Despite the scale of the issue, neither the police, the GA Department, the R&B Division, nor the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have identified the key perpetrators behind the illegal occupations. This lack of accountability has raised suspicions of complicity between some officials and the squatters. When questioned, both the GA Department and R&B Division engaged in blame-shifting, with no clear answers on how such widespread misuse went unnoticed for years.
The R&B Division’s Superintending Engineer, Prabhudatta Pradhan, stated that the GA Department had issued a directive 20 days ago to renovate 210 quarters. However, despite earlier efforts to secure some quarters with locks, illegal occupants continued to hold sway. The R&B Division informed the GA Department about the issue 17 days before the eviction drive, and further inspections and sealing operations are planned for Wednesday.
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Urban Development and Housing Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra took a firm stance, declaring, “No irregularities will be tolerated. Only those allotted quarters are allowed to reside in them. Legal action will be taken against anyone renting them out.”
The eviction drive is set to continue on Wednesday, with the BDA’s enforcement team, supported by other agencies, planning to inspect and clear additional illegally occupied quarters.
The operation has brought to light a systemic failure in monitoring public assets, raising questions about governance and accountability in Odisha’s capital.
As the crackdown progresses, residents and observers await clarity on whether those responsible for enabling this exploitation will face consequences, and whether the reclaimed quarters will finally serve their intended purpose.
