Police officials launch a crackdown on illegal parking along a Cuttack road on Thursday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 20: The traffic wing of police today launched a drive to make the busy road from Badambadi to Ranihat Chhak free from illegal roadside parking of vehicles.

Around 20 violators, including drivers of 15 two-wheelers and two four-wheelers, were fined for obstructing the road.

Earlier in the morning, the traffic officials had also fined nearly six sand-laden tractors and other heavy vehicles for violating the “No Entry” zone on Ring Road.

Official sources said the movement of tractors and other heavy vehicles had been banned on Ring Road from 9am to 12noon and from 3pm to 7pm.

The traffic enforcement on the vital stretch was highly essential keeping in view the acute congestion.

A traffic official said that apart from being one of the major commercial centres, the road acted as a vital connecting link among prominent locations, including College Square, Mangalabag, Chatrabazar and Malgodown.

Many banks, business establishments and other offices and schools, including the Board of Secondary High School, are located on the busy road at Bajrakabati.

“It takes a commuter over 10 to 15 minutes to cover a distance of nearly 3km from Badambadi to Ranihat via Bajrakabati due to the congestion as a result of roadside encroachments and illegal parking,” said Jitendra Mohanty, a commuter.

Mohanty said the traffic officials should carry out the enforcements during peak hours to avoid problems faced by commuters on the major streets in the city.

The traffic wing solely carried out the even though a joint squad, consisting of officials of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation and other departments, is yet to be formed for better enforcement.

The decision of the joint squad formation was taken at a high-level meeting of the traffic management committee in August.

“We have started the crackdown on illegal parking, and such enforcement to make the roads free from encroachments will be intensified after the joint squad is formed,” said P.K. Dalai, assistant commissioner of police (traffic).

Dalai said the crackdown on illegal parking would be conducted at major thoroughfares at regular intervals.