Cuttack, Jan. 30: Bad roads and waterlogging will play on the minds of residents of Buxi Bazar, Pattapole, Sutahat, Odia Bazar, Ganga Mandir and nearby areas when they step out to vote on February 6.

Aware of the importance of these two issues to the 28,600 voters residing in these areas, candidates cutting across political lines are promising better roads and fast widening of the drains to prevent waterlogging.

In 2009, the BJD, with a vote share of 35 per cent, had won in three of the four wards. The Congress, with a vote share of 22.5 per cent in these areas, had won in one ward. The BJP’s vote share was less than 20 per cent.

BJD councillor of ward No. 14 A. Ahalya Devi said: “Major surface drains have been widened, street lights installed and public toilets for slum dwellers renovated.”

This ward is now No. 17 and reserved for backward class women candidates. Though Ahalya had polled 56.38 per cent of the votes in last civic polls, the BJD has dropped her as she was among the councillors whose houses were searched by state vigilance for alleged involvement post-Phailin relief scam.

The BJD, however, has fielded her daughter-in-law A. Sridevi. The two other contestants are from the BJP and the Congress who, in the last civic polls, had vote shares of 22 and 19 per cent, respectively.

Residents feel the work for development of major roads was inadequate.

Construction of another proposed community toilet had also not begun.

“Waterlogging is a major problem in the ward because the drains were not widened,” said K. Rama Rao of Pattapole.

BJD councillor in ward No. 12 Rita Mohanty said: “Internal links were developed along with concrete main roads and street lights were installed at 28 points. Besides, a public toilet and the community centre were renovated.”

Her party has dropped Rita this time, because her ward, now renamed as No. 15, has been reserved for backward class women. BJD had won from the seat in the last civic polls with a vote share of just 26 per cent because nearly 49 per cent of the votes had gone to nine Independent candidates.

However, this time, the contest for the ward will be limited to the big three.

Residents complained of tardy progress in the development of Kala Vikash Kendra road and Khalasi Lane and the lack of a public toilet in the slum areas.

“Commuters are facing a lot of difficulties because the renovation of Khalasi Lane is not complete,” said Suskant Rout, a resident of the area.

Congress councillor of ward No. 15 Kalpana Bose said: “Gaurishankar Park has been renovated. Work on peripheral development around Netaji Birthplace Museum is under way as part of a tourism project. Remnants of the old jail are also being developed as a freedom movement memorial.”

Kalpana’s ward is now No. 18 and reserved for scheduled caste candidates. The Congress, which had a vote share of 35 per cent in the ward in the last polls, has dropped her. The BJD is leaving no stone unturned to wrest the seat from the Congress.

Apart from the BJP, Odisha Jana Morcha candidate and an Independent are also in the fray.

Residents feel steps were not taken to improve the drainage channels and several roads had not been developed.

“There has been delay in execution of various development projects in the ward, which also lacks a community centre,” Subhankar Swain, a resident of the ward, said.

BJD councillor Abdul Mallick of ward No. 16 said:

“Over 90 per cent of work undertaken for development of roads and drains have been completed. While 27 semi-high mast street lights have been installed, renovation and construction of a new community centre was also completed.”

The BJD has not given a ticket to Abdul as his ward has been renamed as No. 19 has been reserved for backward class women candidates. In last civic polls, the BJD had polled 27.32 per cent, while Congress and the BJP had followed with 22.77 per cent and 21.50 per cent, respectively.

Apart from the BJD, the Congress and the BJP, a CPI candidate and an Independent are in the fray this time.

Residents said garbage was not removed on time and the ward lacked a public toilet. The only public toilet at Deewan Bazar had been closed down.

“Waterlogging persists in some areas as a wall of main drain has not been constructed,” said Chandan Moharana of Christian Sahi.