--- title: "Dhakuria Bridge Sit-In: Domestic Workers Fight Eviction Without Relocation Plans" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/dhakuria-bridge-sit-in-domestic-workers-fight-eviction-without-relocation-plans-fhjax publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: India published: 2026-07-31T03:31:51.000Z modified: 2026-07-31T06:02:01.263Z language: en-IN --- # Dhakuria Bridge Sit-In: Domestic Workers Fight Eviction Without Relocation Plans Dozens of families living beneath south Kolkata’s Dhakuria flyover have launched a 24-hour protest against a sudden eviction order. Lacking rehabilitation guarantees, these essential workers face displacement despite their roles in the local economy. ## Key takeaways - At least 58 families under the Dhakuria bridge face immediate eviction without a confirmed rehabilitation plan from the West Bengal government. - Protesters include domestic workers and daily wagers who form the backbone of the local service economy in south Kolkata. - The Calcutta High Court recently granted a one-day stay of eviction as residents wait for a full judicial hearing on their residency rights. - Residents report being turned away by the Chief Minister's office and local MLAs, with officials citing administrative orders from higher authorities. - The eviction push is part of a broader statewide crackdown on slums and hawkers following the change in government on May 4. ## Uncertainty Under the Flyover A group of 58 families residing beneath the Dhakuria bridge in south Kolkata has launched a continuous 24-hour sit-in demonstration as of July 28, 2026. The protest comes in response to official eviction notices that residents claim offer no path toward rehabilitation. While 43 of these families possess documentation proving their long-term residence, the looming threat of displacement remains imminent. The atmosphere at the site is described by locals as one of constant anxiety. Sapna Tripathi, a representative from the West Bengal Domestic Workers Union, reports that police and central forces have been issuing notices late at night, a tactic she describes as intimidation. Tripathi, who is assisting with legal filings, noted the particular difficulty of moving families during the peak of the Bengal monsoon season without provided alternatives. ## Legislative and Judicial Deadlock Residents have sought intervention through several official channels, including the "Janatar Darbar" aimed at reaching Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, yet they report being denied an audience. According to the protesters, administrative officials have characterized the eviction as a top-down mandate beyond political negotiation. Similar attempts to meet with local MLA Swapan Dasgupta have reportedly failed. Legal action has been initiated at the Calcutta High Court. While the court granted a stay on the eviction for a single day, the community is currently awaiting a follow-up hearing to determine their fate. For the residents, the threat of bulldozers is not just a matter of property but of survival. One anonymous college student expressed how the psychological strain has severely hindered her ability to complete her academic work. ## The Economic Paradox of Development The majority of those facing eviction are integral to the local economy; 90% of the women work as domestic help in nearby affluent neighborhoods, while the men typically serve as daily wagers. Bibha Naskar, secretary of the West Bengal Domestic Workers Union and a resident of the settlement, questioned why urban beautification efforts frequently marginalize the laborers who maintain the city's functionality. This surge in displacement activity follows the administrative shift after the May 4 election. Since the new government took power, there has been a significant uptick in the removal of hawkers and slum residents across the state. Many protesters highlighted the irony of their current predicament, noting that they supported the current administration in the recent Assembly elections, only to face state-led displacement within months of the victory. Source: The Hindu — National --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/dhakuria-bridge-sit-in-domestic-workers-fight-eviction-without-relocation-plans-fhjax Reported from: The Hindu — National