VEHARI, Jan 29: The railway authorities have directed 23 plot holders to vacate them within 15 days, failing which they will be evicted and the buildings constructed on the plots will be demolished.

The plots, situated near railway crossing, Mailsi, were auctioned by the railways in 1998 through the Punjab Privatization Board. The buyers were given the possession by the railways and they constructed houses on them.

The affected people have sought help from the privatization board and railways authorities to save their buildings worth millions of rupees.

When contacted, a railway official claimed that the auction was illegal. He said no NoC was obtained from the railway authorities to auction the land.

The civil administration has no authority to auction the railway land, he maintained.