An unauthorised kalyan mandap in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 15: The development authority officials are in a quandary over unauthorised kalyan mandaps across the city.

The Traffic Management Committee has mounted pressure on the development authority for over a year now for required action as many mandaps have come up without parking places leading to congestion on roads.

“We will take further action only with Orissa High Court’s direction or guideline in this matter,” secretary of the authority Saroj Sethi said.

The menace had figured at the last month’s meeting of the high court constituted Traffic Management Committee for Cuttack city. The police commissioner is heading the committee.

“It was decided to solicit high court direction on unauthorised kalyan mandaps. The matter will be placed in the next sitting of the PIL bench for civic problems in Cuttack city,” committee member advocate Jaydip Pal said.

More than a year ago, the panel took up the issue after Cuttack deputy commissioner of police Pravin Kumar had submitted a report expressing concern that there was no parking place at such premises and the approach roads were not suitable for parking in a number of cases. Many of them are not safe to hold marriage ceremonies or functions, while many were functioning without the requisite permission from the authority and fire services, the report stated.

The panel had asked the development authority to verify Kumar’s report and submit a status report.

“The authority, after a joint inspection along with the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, submitted a status report, indicating 111 illegal mandaps in the city,” a committee member said.

More than 40 per cent of the private kalyan mandaps are reportedly not safe to hold social functions. There is no parking place at more than 60 per cent of them.

“The people have no option but to park on roads while attending marriages or functions at such mandaps till they are provided with an alternative place for parking,” said Bidanasi resident Satyajit Roy.