Agartala, 2nd November 2026 : Licensed small traders operating at various railway stations under the Northeast Frontier Railway’s Lumding Division are facing an uncertain future following the eviction of shops from railway platforms, triggering widespread resentment among affected vendors.
The eviction drive, carried out on Sunday at Dharmanagar and other railway stations across the division, reportedly affected around 200 shops, according to the aggrieved traders. The action has not only threatened the livelihoods of shop owners but has also pushed the families of employees working under them into financial uncertainty.
For years, numerous small traders have been running food stalls selling rice meals, tea, biscuits and other refreshments on railway platforms under the Lumding Division. Many had been operating with railway licences for decades, while some had inherited the businesses from their families. For these traders, the shops were their primary source of income and the only means of supporting their households.
The sudden eviction has left many of them struggling to figure out how to sustain their families after losing their long-standing businesses.
One affected trader said his father had operated the shop for many years before he took over the business. The income generated from the stall was the sole means of running his household. With the shop now gone, he said he was at a loss as to how he would provide food and meet the needs of his children.
Another trader alleged that the railway authorities had decided to evict the existing shops and invite fresh tenders for allotment. The traders had appealed to the authorities to allow them to continue their businesses, even if that meant paying higher rents. However, their requests were allegedly not considered.
The trader further claimed that the affected vendors had approached the court to challenge the eviction. Despite pursuing legal remedies, they were unable to protect their businesses. He alleged that the eviction was carried out on Sunday with the assistance of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP), even as they were in the process of approaching the court again.
Meanwhile, when contacted for a comment on the eviction drive, the railway official responsible for the matter declined to comment on Sunday.
With their shops demolished or removed, the affected traders are now grappling with an uncertain future. Many fear that the loss of their businesses will leave them without any reliable source of income, affecting not only their immediate families but also the employees who depended on them for their livelihoods.
The traders have appealed to the railway authorities to take a humanitarian approach to the issue and explore alternative livelihood arrangements for those affected by the eviction. They have urged the authorities to consider the long years they have spent operating their licensed businesses at the stations and help them find a way to support their families.
