Bhubaneswar, Dec. 26: Unhygienic environment, unsafe roads and lack of street lights are some of the deficiencies that residents of Gada Gopinath Prasad Colony here have to contend with on a daily basis.

The area, a major residential hub, lacks even basic civic amenities despite being a part of the state capital.

State government employee Manoranjan Kar said the area in front of his residence was always strewn with garbage. Even the drain is left uncovered. "I had requested the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation officials to cover the drain as it breeds mosquitoes, but nothing has been done," he said.

Kar said the garbage dumped in the 2,200sqft open area in front of his house had added to the mosquito menace. "The civic authorities had fogged the area a few days ago, but it is not enough. The area needs to be cleaned thoroughly," he said.

The colony saw a boom in individual housing projects around 2,000 when several professionals and businessmen constructed houses there. The approach road is narrow and local residents alleged that it was a result of encroachment.

"In 2013, the works department had decided to widen the road, but nothing happened," said Narendra Swain, a businessman. He said the peak-hour traffic often choked the road.

While the area has developed commercially, lack of street lights remains a challenge for the residents. Karim Sadiq, an assistant professor, said it was unsafe to travel here at night. "There have been instances of motorcyclists being robbed at night," he said.

Ward No. 18 councillor Jyotsnarani Routray said adequate streetlights were provided on the approach road. "However, there are some bylanes where we will install the lights shortly," she said, adding that the agency entrusted to maintain cleanliness in the area would be asked to double their efforts.

Sadiq said that often some local youngsters resorted to demand money from cars passing by the stretch.

"It happened to my relative, who, after having dinner at my place, was returning home around 11pm. Some youngsters, who were drunk, stopped him near the Daya West canal. He had to shell out Rs 2,000 to get rid of them," he said. Sadiq said adequate street lights could have prevented recurrences of such instances.

Echoing Sadiq, medicine specialist N.K. Nayak said police should open an outpost in the area. "The residents had sought a police outpost during an interaction with the then commissioner, Rajendra Prasad Sharma, but in vain," he said. Nayak said the area fell under three police stations and residents often faced a tough time while seeking help from the cops.

Deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said he would look into the matter and consult the respective police stations to provide the facility. He said police patrol would be intensified in the area.