The Odisha government is carrying out a major eviction drive in Salia Sahi, the largest slum in Bhubaneswar, to pave the way for the construction of a road to decongest traffic on the Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan road, officials said on Wednesday.

Amid protests by a section of slum-dwellers, local activists and political leaders, the joint enforcement team of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and other departments launched the eviction drive on Tuesday in presence of police force, the officials said.

The authorities have identified over 550 unauthorised houses for demolition, and over 80 such houses were demolished using excavators on the first day, while the drive is underway for the second day on Wednesday, they said.

The eviction drive will

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