Bhubaneswar: Police on Tuesday issued an order restricting marriage processions on five major roads of the city from February 1.

According to the order, marriage processions will not be allowed to pass through Raj Bhavan Square to KIIT Square, Vani Vihar Square to Sishu Bhavan Square, Rasulgarh Square to Rabi Talkies Square, Kalpana Square to Raj Bhavan Square via AG Square and New Airport Square to Acharya Vihar Square via AG Square.

The decision was taken after the police found marriage processions to several hotels and other venues creating traffic congestion on the major roads. Essential services such as ambulance and fire service face difficulty in reaching their destinations because of obstruction caused by marriage processions on the main roads, said the order.

The police said licences for holding marriage processions would not be granted on these roads.

"Police stations concerned have been asked to keep tabs on the processions. Any violation will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 500, which can be extended up to Rs 1,000," said a police official.

Orissa High Court had, in an order in 2010, expressed concern in allowing marriage processions on the main roads. The police had in 2016 granted licences to around 700 marriage processions, of which 60 per cent processions were conducted on the five major routes.

The municipal corporation has also decided to collect Rs 5,000 per day from those taking out processions.

"This restriction should have been put earlier as the general public has been suffering for others' fault," said Asish Jena, a city resident.