Cut-points on the NH-5 at Sikharpur in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 1: Nearly three months have lapsed but police have failed to implement the Traffic Management Committee’s decision to close the cut-point at Sikharpur crossing on the NH-5.

The decision was taken after the Members of the Assembly Standing Committee expressed concern over delay in traffic clearance at the crossing.

The Sikharpur crossing is the converging point of the city’s traffic from Mahanadi Vihar, Chauliaganj and Sikharpur on the NH-5.

The Traffic Management Committee, constituted by Orissa High Court with the commissioner of police as its chairman, had on April 3 decided “to close the Sikharpur cut” during that month. The decision has not been implemented. The recording of proceedings of the Traffic Management Committee’s last meeting on June 8 stated: “As regards closure of Sikharpur cut, definite decision could not be taken so far as the alternative road has not been developed.”

The police, however, said: “Ground work on the alternative road is already under way.” “The National Highways Authority of India has undertaken the work. Closure of Sikharpur cut will be carried out after development of the alternative road and improvement in infrastructure,” assistant commissioner of police (traffic) Krushna Chandra Samal told The Telegraph.

Official sources said the Assembly Standing Committee had, at a meeting on traffic clearance on the national highway in March, expressed concern over hold up in the movement of vehicular traffic plying on the NH-5 because of delay in traffic clearance at Sikharpur crossing. The committee had suggested for exploring an alternative arrangement for the incoming and outgoing vehicular traffic of Cuttack, which meets the NH-5 at Sikharpur, to ensure smooth passage of vehicles on the national highway.

The Traffic Management Committee had initially considered closure of the Sikharpur cut keeping in view the increase in road accidents. “Despite the presence of an electronic traffic signalling system, accidents were occurring in the busy traffic junction. So, development of the alternative road was considered with infrastructure improvement (street lighting) of the underpass for better traffic management,” said advocate Pravat Ranjan Dash, a member of the committee.

After closure of the Sikharpur cut point, vehicular movement has been planned through the service roads on both sides of the NH via the underpass. But, Anand Sahu, 35, a Nuabazar resident, feels “for those, who travel towards Mahanadi Vihar, Chauliaganj and Sikharpur, will have to travel half a kilometre more after closure of the cut-point”.

“People will have to use the Sikharpur underpass and OMP Square to travel from both sides of the NH,” said Sahu, who runs a shop at Sikharpur.