The second day of the large-scale eviction drive at Salia Sahi continued peacefully on Wednesday, as the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), and Commissionerate Police jointly carried out the removal of encroachments to facilitate the construction of the left parallel road. According to the BDA, more than 400 houses were demolished during the day, and residents were shifted to alternative locations.
Authorities had informed residents about the eviction on Monday afternoon using loudspeaker announcements across the settlement. On Tuesday, when the joint eviction team arrived, there was brief tension between officials and residents. Although the first day saw emotional resistance, the second day progressed smoothly without major disruptions.
Despite dissatisfaction over losing their temporary homes, residents vacated the area peacefully in compliance with government instructions.
The eviction work is tied to a major infrastructure project. In June 2021, the then Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra had instructed that construction of the left parallel road be completed at the earliest. Continuous media reports on delays in the project prompted renewed action, resulting in the ongoing eviction.
Officials from the BMC and BDA stated that removing all existing obstacles will allow both parallel road projects to be completed. The new roads are expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion between Jayadev Vihar and Cuttack Road, one of the city’s busiest stretches.
