Bhubaneswar: The approach road connecting Vani Vihar Square with Acharya Vihar Square, one of the busiest roads, has become a nightmare for commuters thanks to indiscriminate parking in front of the Regional Transport Office-I (RTO).

The 4,000sqft, two-storey RTO building has been functioning without adequate parking facilities for the past 30 years. As a result, visitors to the office are forced to park on the national highway, causing traffic congestion on the road.

The presence of a cinema and government offices compounds commuter woes.

While most vehicles opt to use the flyover to avoid the congestion, other commuters are forced to use the road and further add to the chaos.

"Those travelling to Nayapalli have the choice of taking the flyover. But commuters to Sainik School Square from Rasulgrah don't have any other option expect using this stretch," said Jaydev Mohapatra, a commuter.

Vehicle owners turning up at the RTO also expressed helplessness. "The office does not have parking facilities. We have no other option but to park on the road for inspection and related works," said a car owner.

In March 2014, the transport department set up another office near Patia to ease the burden on the existing one. Despite the bifurcation, however, the RTO-I remains overcrowded. Seized vehicles that have been lying on the premises for years are also reponsible for the congestion.

The authorities had proposed a three-storey building at the existing location last year, but construction is yet to start.

"The proposed 5,000sqft building will cost Rs 3.9 crore. The tender has been awarded and it will have adequate parking space. Construction will start shortly. For the time being, we have hired three private security guards to manage traffic," said regional transport officer, Bhuban-eswar I, P.K. Mohanty.