Cuttack, Dec. 20: Commuters are having a tough time on major thoroughfares here due to corporation's inordinate delay in repair of road.

The Meria Bazar-Bajrakabati Road has turned out to be most unsafe for commuters here since the civic body has not taken any steps for repairing the road in the last three years, according to an official source.

As the entire road development project is likely to be assisted by officials of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) is not willing to take up restoration work of the thoroughfares on a war footing.

"The entire stretch from Meria Bazar to Chatra Bazar via Bajrakabati Road needs immediate repair," said councillor Manoj Sethy.

Sethy alleged that the 2.5km stretch of road was now dotted with potholes, while major portion of the thoroughfare was unsafe for movement of vehicular traffic.

Most of the localities on both sides of the main storm water channel No. 1, including Kesharpur, are facing problems due to acute waterlogging during monsoon as its retaining wall has been damaged at various points.

"Already two persons were injured due to poor road condition. We have asked CMC officials to ensure that the basic repair of roads is completed before the rainy season next year," Sethy said.

The road restoration project now assumes significance because the congestion on the main road at Ranihat makes a lot of commuters depend on the Meria Bazar-Bajrakabati Road to travel towards College Square, puttong more pressure on it.

The Meria Bazar-Bajrakabati Road also acts as a vital link between areas such as Seminary Chhak, Buxi Bazar, College Square and SCB Medical College and Hospital.

"We have already stopped travelling on the Professorpara Road from Bajrakabati Road as it is full of potholes. We hope the civic body wakes up to the situation and initiate immediate measures," said Sanjay Mohanty, a daily commuter.

The chairman of the CMC standing committee on public health, Ranjan Biswal, said: "Already JICA project officials have been asked to ensure that there is no waterlogging condition in the localities that lie close to main storm water channel No. 1."

"The process of shifting electric poles has already started and we sincerely hope that repair works will be taken up shortly," he added.