Cuttack, Aug. 7: Rapid urbanisation on the southwestern fringe has gradually resulted in creating traffic problems for residents of the city.

Areas such as Bidanasi and CDA, where no major effort has taken place for expansion of roads, are now unable to accommodate rising number of vehicles.

Disorganised traffic system on JPM Eye Hospital Road cause severe inconvenience not only to local residents, but also to other commuters.

“There is an unprecedented rush on JPM Eye Hospital Road during peak hours. Sometimes, it gets impossible to travel from one end of the road to the other due to traffic jam,” said Kishore Swain, 35, a commuter.

JPM Eye Hospital Road is a major thoroughfare for residents of CDA sectors 6, 7, 8, and 9, who depend on the road to move to the other end of the city via Sati Choura Chhak.

Moreover, JPM Eye Hospital crossing is also the converging point for vehicles coming from Sati Choura, CDA sectors 6, 7, 8 and 9, and Belleview.

Local residents say the crossing has also become an accident-prone junction because of non-deployment of constables to regulate traffic flow there.

“Though a traffic outpost has been set up, there is no deployment of any traffic constable. Moreover, it has been found that traffic personnel on duty often rest under sheds instead of performing their duties at the crossing,” said Prakash Sahu, 44, a local resident.

He further said lack of provisions for parking of vehicles and expansion of roads were major impediments to smooth flow of traffic here. The road is also in bad shape and in need of urgent repairs.

“Though it is a major road, no step has been taken for its repairs. This causes enormous problems for commuters, especially during the rains, as one can hardly dodge the potholes filled with rainwater,” said Seikh Shamin, 38, another daily commuter.

On the other hand, traffic officials said adequate measures have been taken for better traffic management in the city. “There has been a considerable hike in the number of deployment of traffic personnel. They have been deployed to regulate traffic flow at prominent crossings, including the JPM Eye Hospital Road,” said an official.

Moreover, there is also a proposal to install a digital traffic signal at the JPM Eye Hospital crossing soon, the traffic official added.