Bhubaneswar: Tension prevailed in the Niladri Vihar area of Bhubaneswar on Tuesday as the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) launched a major eviction drive.

The administration has prepared to evict around 330 houses in the first phase from the Niladri Vihar area, which has around 890 houses in total. The eviction action faced strong resistance from locals, leading to a tense situation in the area.

The drive is being carried out mainly at the Transit House area, where a large number of people have been living for a long time. According to the administration, the government has already made arrangements for their rehabilitation by providing houses in a nearby housing project at Buddha Vihar.

However, despite being allotted alternative accommodation, the residents were reportedly reluctant to vacate the Transit House premises. The authorities had earlier served repeated notices and requested them to vacate the area.

With the premises not being vacated by them, the BMC and BDA eventually launched the eviction drive. Bulldozers were brought in to remove the encroachments.

Police have been deployed at the spot to maintain law and order during the drive. Although the eviction drive began in the presence of police, opposition from locals has kept the situation tense.