Haridwar, Jan. 4 -- Haridwar district administration has started an anti-encroachment drive to free up illegally occupied public spaces ahead of 2027 Ardh Kumbh fair, officials familiar with the matter said. District magistrate Mayur Dixit has directed all government departments and National Highway Authority of India to ensure freeing of illegal occupation and encroached spaces on highway stretches passing through Haridwar district. "Have directed all department officials to ensure encroachment issue doesn't impact Kumbh fair-2027, which will be held in an encroachment-free way. All respective concerned officials and departments should work in a coordinated way to ensure timely removal of encroachments,"said district magistrate Mayur Dixit. Officials of NHAI said that phase wise removal of encroachments has been underway on daily basis alongside national highway stretches in the district. "Directives from district magistrate are being taken on priority basis and encroachments of all types are being removed including illegal hoardings, unipoles-billboards, slums, temporary shops and related encroachments," said executive engineer NHAI Atul Sharma....