As an eviction drive for a six-lane parallel road between Jaydev Vihar and Patia Square to ease traffic congestion began on Wednesday; protests by Salia Sahi slum dwellers temporarily stalled the drive.
The eviction drive was being jointly carried out by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Commissionerate police to facilitate a vacant lane for the emergency vehicles, which get stuck in traffic congestion in the city.
There are plans to build a six-lane road (three-lane each) on either side of the road connecting Jayadev Vihar and Patia square. However, Salia Sahi dwellers came forward in protest of the eviction drive demanding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act and 20x30 square foot residential plot within the city. In view of this, BMC Commissioner and BDA Vice-Chairman Prem Chandra Chaudhary said commercial spaces in the area would be demolished in the first phase. A rehabilitation colony would be established and the people would be relocated after the HSC Examination concludes.