No one pays attention to the directions of the electronic traffic signal at Chandi Mandir crossing in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 21: Defective road engineering and faulty plans have turned Chandi Mandir crossing, one of the busiest junctions in the city, into a chaotic zone.

Though a digital traffic signal had been installed at the crossing a few years ago, traffic constables still find it difficult to regulate vehicular movement there.

“The electronic traffic signal, which was switched off for the last few days because of the Bali yatra festival, started to function again today. But, drivers never pay any heed to the signal’s directions. As a result, traffic chaos persists here,” said Keshav Rout, a local resident.

He said the digital traffic signal was also out of order following the immersion ceremony of Goddess Durga in the month of October. However, officials soon took steps to repair it.

Everyday, hundreds of commuters, including school and college students, depend on the vital roads passing through Chandi Mandir crossing, which act as links between Buxi Bazar and Kanika Chhak areas of the city.

Similarly, the road is also a converging point for vehicles coming from Barabati Stadium, Cantoment, Seikh Bazar, Kanika Chhak and Mission Road areas.

“At times, the traffic situation at the crossing goes chaoctic as no steps have been taken to discipline the drivers who do not follow the signal. Traffic violation also takes place as there are a lot of cut-points or gaps on the road dividers,” said Manoranjan Nayak, a commuter.

Nayak said there were a number of openings on the road dividers which obstructed vehicular movement. There is no particular marking or sign on the road asking vehicles to stop. Moreover, because of bad road engineering, vehicles from either side collide with one another, as there is a huge gap between one point of stoppage and the other.

Residents of Chandi Mandir area feel that instead of road dividers, there should be a circular crossing to regulate the traffic flow in the area.

Traffic officials have also admitted that bad road engineering had created problems in traffic regulation at Chandi Mandir crossing.

“We have already written to the roads and buildings division about this. We have also submitted proposals regarding streamlining the existing infrastructure needed for better traffic management at the junction,” said a traffic official.