Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: Tension gripped Salia Sahi in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday as hundreds of residents staged strong protests against an eviction drive carried out jointly by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). The situation quickly escalated, prompting authorities to deploy a large police force to prevent the unrest from spiralling out of control.

Officials involved in the operation stated that the eviction is part of a major urban development plan to clear portions of Salia Sahi for the construction of a left parallel road from Ekamra Kanan to Andharua. The ambitious 13-kilometre stretch is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity in the area.

A multi-department team comprising BMC, BDA, WATCO, the electricity department, and the police reached the slum early in the morning to initiate the drive. However, several residents strongly opposed the move, alleging that they had not been provided with adequate rehabilitation arrangements. The protest soon intensified into a sit-in on the road, leading to minor scuffles between locals and enforcement personnel.

Police detained around 30 individuals for obstructing the operation and warned others against disrupting the process. To maintain law and order, 15 platoons of police—including DCP-rank officers, ACPs, and IICs from five police stations—were deployed in and around the area.

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