28 businessmen in Demow ASTC bus stand face uncertain future

 a Correspondent

DEMOW, May 8: The construction of the four-lane road from Numaligarh to Demow started last year in Demow and majority portion of the eviction drive has been completed in Demow Chariali. The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) bus stand is in the middle of Demow Chariali and near NH-37 road and there are 28 shops in the bus stand. Every month, the government gets revenue from these shops and the owners of the shops pay the rent to the Demow ASTC Office. But till date, the 28 businessmen of Demow ASTC bus stand have not got their compensation. Moreover, it has not been filized where the Demow ASTC bus stand will go, said Shyamal Das, owner of Das Bakery. “When I saw the eviction notice, it was like a bolt from the blue for me. I did not know what to do,” said Chitta Ranjan Dey, owner of Dey Agency Unique. Regarding these problems of the 28 businessmen of Demow ASTC bus stand, a memorandum was also submitted to the authority concerned before but till date the compensation for the furniture in the respective shops has not been given. The order came on Monday from the office of the Divisiol Superintendent ASTC, Sivasagar which has created panic among the 28 businessmen, said Chintu Chetia, a businessman of Demow ASTC Bus Stand. The business community has demanded the higher officials of ASTC to provide compensation as well as to filize officially where the new ASTC bus stand will go.