Kolkata: West Bengal witnessed a major bulldozer action as authorities launched anti-encroachment drives near Howrah Station and Sealdah Railway Station, triggering fresh political debate over an alleged “UP-style model” of demolition and crackdown on illegal constructions in the state.

Illegal shops and temporary structures near the Ganga ghat, bus stand and railway land around Howrah station were demolished during the operation. Bulldozers cleared encroachments under heavy police deployment as officials from the Railway Protection Force, IOW department and Howrah City Police carried out the drive.

Amid the demolition campaign, West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said bulldozers would continue to operate against illegal encroachments across the state, drawing comparisons with the BJP’s crackdown model seen in Uttar Pradesh.

“bulldozer will operate across the country. Wherever there is illegal construction or encroachment, bulldozers will be used. In West Bengal too, after the new Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power, we started this work from day one,” Ghosh said while speaking to reporters in Kharagpur.

The BJP leader urged people involved in illegal activities to shift to legal business operations, warning that the government would not tolerate encroachment on public land.

The latest demolition drive has intensified political discussion in West Bengal over whether the BJP government is attempting to introduce a tougher anti-encroachment approach similar to the bulldozer campaigns associated with Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh.

The action also comes days after a deadly fire incident in Kolkata’s Tiljala area that killed two people and renewed concerns over allegedly illegal and unsafe constructions in crowded neighbourhoods.

West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul defended the demolition campaign and said authorities would follow legal procedures before taking action.

“If there is illegal construction, we will send you the notice and ask for the document. We will not allow you if you do not have any documents. We will surely give a time limit. We are not in a hurry,” she said.

Meanwhile, several affected residents questioned the administration’s approach and demanded more time to collect documents and belongings from the buildings facing demolition.

Resident Shakeel Ahmad said important documents remained inside one of the affected structures, while Nazia Firdous appealed to the administration for a 24-hour stay on the demolition so residents could present ownership papers.

With inputs from agencies