Jyoti Chhetri father, Bhim Chhetri, who works as a mason, revealed that the family has received a “notice” from local authorities instructing them to vacate their house to facilitate the widening of the road.
This poses a significant challenge for the family, considering they moved into the house 20 years ago and constructed it on what they believe to be a 300-square-foot plot of government land, without any legal documentation.
Situated on a winding road with a modest appearance, the Chhetri family’s home offers a serene view of the confluence of three rivers – Sankh, Koel, and Sarasvati. It’s positioned just across the renowned Panposh Sports Hostel, renowned for nurturing numerous international hockey stars, including former captain and current Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, former internationals Lazarus Barla and Prabodh Tirkey, and current India team defender Amit Rohidas.
Reflecting on their journey, Bhim shared, “I relocated to Rourkela from Ranchi in 1988. Initially, I served as a watchman at the hostel and resided in the provided quarters. Later, I joined the hostel’s canteen as an assistant cook. As my family grew with the arrival of two children, the quarters became too cramped for us.”
The family of four settled there shortly after Jyoti’s birth, and it remained their cherished home until two years ago when they were caught off guard by the arrival of local authorities at their doorstep.
Jyoti Chhetri responded
“About 8-10 government officials arrived to take measurements and informed us of the impending demolition,” Bhim recounted. “They granted us time until 2025 or at the latest, 2026, before the demolition commences… We simply cannot afford to purchase a new house or land. We’ve pleaded with the government officials for rehabilitation assistance. They requested our Aadhar cards and other documents, but we’ve yet to receive a response.”
Following the demolition of their home, the narrow one-lane road will be widened to alleviate congestion on the bridge spanning the river, connecting Kuarmunda to Panposh, located 10 km away. This initiative forms part of the broader project to upgrade the national highway, with the four-lane expansion overseen by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Odisha.