Underground cable work at two important areas in Bhubaneswar has become a traffic hazard. The Rs 222-crore project, commissioned by State Capital Region Improvement of Power System and Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited, was launched in March. It seeks to prevent damage to power lines by natural calamities and also reduce power thefts across the city. Sandeep Dwivedy of The Telegraph risks a ride on the stretches.

CUTTACK-PURI ROAD AT BOMIKHAL

♦ Project deadline: April 2018
♦ Problems: Work on the 200-metre busy road started a month back. Iron rods jutting out of the construction site pose a threat to motorists and pedestrians. Moreover, loose stone chips, mounds of sand and muck from the construction site spill on to the road. At a time when the cable-laying work has already narrowed down the stretch, poor signage makes it difficult to commute at night. Around 1,000 vehicles, including heavy ones and city buses, ply on the road between 10am to 1pm everyday. The work has also taken a toll on underground telephone cables. While landlines lie defunct, Internet connectivity has taken a hit in the past five days.

What commuters say
“While returning home from work on Monday evening, I almost rammed into an iron barrier. The road was choc-a-bloc with vehicles and a few were coming from the wrong side”
Siddhant Sarangi, 28, resident, Bomikhal

“It is tough for small vehicles and two-wheelers to negotiate through the traffic on the stretch when heavy vehicles are passing through the area due to lack of reflectors or lights”
Manoranjan Kar, 58, resident of GGP Colony

“Pedestrians use the stretch to travel to Kochilei Hata and Rasulgarh Square. The ongoing work has left no space for pedestrians to walk on”
Niranjan Behera, 54, resident, Rasulgarh

MASTER CANTEEN SQUARE TO PMG SQUARE

♦ Project deadline: March 2018
♦ Problems: The work here started around two months back. Though the site is well marked with boards, it doesn’t have proper lighting making it difficult to commute at night.

What commuters say
“Erecting marked boards alone is not enough. Proper indications are a must to address the safety of the people”
Sanatan Mishra, 47, city planner

What officials say
“Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited and the private company engaged in the task will be asked to ensure proper markings at all sites where underground cable work is being undertaken” 
Ananta Narayan Jena, mayor

“Safety measures have been implemented at all work sites. However, we will look into allegations of safety lapses”
Official, Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited 

Pictures by Ashwinee Pati and Sanjib Mukherjee