Drain and culvert repair work in progress in front of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 17: The ongoing work for repair and renovation of a culvert in front of the main entrance to the SCB Medical College and Hospital has created severe traffic congestions on the Mangalabag Medical Road.

This has caused inconvenience to hospital staff, patients and their attendants as all the vehicles are now being allowed to enter and exit through only one gate as the other one remains closed for the culvert repair work that started about a week ago.

The traffic chaos in front of the SCB main gate is also affecting movement of both hospital-bound and other vehicles on the Mangalabag Medical Road, which connects Ring Road with Bose Engineering College Road.

“Commuters remain stranded in front of the hospital’s main gate as vehicles from both the SCB campus and other areas of Mangalabag now converge on one point creating traffic chaos,” said Sidharth Swain, an attendant. He also said that pedestrians were the worst sufferers of the problem as they faced most difficulties to enter and exit the hospital.

“Usually, we have to come out of the hospital campus to purchase medicines and food at least thrice a day. But, we find it very tough to move even an inch because of the congestion on the main entrance of the hospital especially during peak hours,” said Kailash Sahu, an attendant from Balasore. Local residents said that the authorities should initiate measures to ensure that vehicles from SCB campus are diverted through the western gate on the Ranihat side to avoid congestion on the Mangalabag Medical Road.

On the other hand, traffic officials said that two additional constables have been deployed to regulate vehicular rush near the main entrance as well as on the Mangalabag Medical Road because of the ongoing culvert renovation.

The culvert was in a dilapidated condition and as a result there was problem in the passage of wastewater. The drain used to overflow, creating problems for local residents as well as hundreds of people coming to SCB.

In a report on October 15, 2011, The Telegraph had highlighted the dilapidated condition of the existing drain and culvert in front of the SCB entrance.

In another development, local councillor Pavitra Bhuyan said the problems of waterlogging and overflowing of drains at Mangalabag and SCB would come to an end after renovation of the drain and culvert.

“After repeated demands, officials of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation have approved the Rs 10-lakh culvert repair and renovation project. It is likely to be completed within a month,” he said.