Construction of a culvert near the new bus stand in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, May 18: As one moves towards the new bus stand from Courtpeta Square, one will notice large signboards which mention “Work under progress… Road closed”. These boards have been a common sight here for the last five months.

Reason: A culvert situated at one end of the bus stand is under construction since January. The construction work is progressing at snail’s pace. As a result, around 230 buses have been forced to ply on a diverted route, causing problem for the commuters and city residents.

Private buses plying on all routes generally enter new bus stand through this particular road. But this busy road has been closed for the last five months, because of the apathy of the department responsible for construction of culverts.

Subash Chandra Patnaik, secretary of the Ganjam District Private Bus Operators’ Association, said they, as well as passengers, were facing difficulties as the road from Courtpeta Square to the bus stand was closed for construction.

“Private buses are now plying on a diverted route covering a 3km distance when the distance between Courtpeta Square and new bus stand is less than 1km. We have to waste a lot of money and time going by this diverted route, which is also narrow and congested. We have failed to ply the buses in time,” said Patnaik.

Sarat Kumar Mohapatra, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), who supervises city traffic, said: “We are facing a lot of trouble to control traffic.” The present strength of traffic personnel in Berhampur is a meagre 36, against the sanctioned posts of 48. From this, one would be able to imagine how difficult it is for us to manage the traffic.

Subash Patra, a resident of Gurandi who reached Berhampur by bus from Paralakhemundi, said: “The alternative entry route to Berhampur is very complicated. A new visitor to the city would definitely face a lot of trouble.”

“I have put all my efforts to complete the construction work of the culvert near the new bus stand on time. But the delay in tender process for the approach road has caused delay in opening the road from Courtpeta Square to new bus stand,” said contractor Surya Narayan Patnaik.

“Berhampur Municipal Corporation has sanctioned Rs 16.52 lakh for construction of this culvert under the Roads and Bridges Fund of the 12th Finance Commission. A total Rs 11.72 lakh has already been spent for construction,” said an engineer of the corporation.