Traffic congestion at Rajmahal Square. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, March 6: The ongoing construction works of a flyover at Rajmahal Square has led to a traffic mess in the area. Commuters are facing a serious problem as those coming from the Kalpana and Forest Park sides often have to wait 30 to 35 minutes to cross the crossing.

The movement of vehicles has been slowed down as the upcoming structure has occupied a lot of space. To make things worse, there is only one traffic police to manage the traffic at the square at any given time of the day.

According to sources in the roads and buildings division of the public works department (PWD), the Rs 37.45 crore Rajmahal Square flyover with 30 spans is running behind schedule. The work, started in March 2009, should have been over by March 2011. But as things stand now, it is unlikely to be completed before December 2011.

The delay in the execution of the project has only multiplied the problems of the commuters. Their woes are particularly acute during the peak hours — between 10am to 11.30am and 5.30pm to 9.00pm — when the rush of traffic is heavy.

S. Samal, a computer science teacher at the BJB English Medium School, said: “The authorities have already taken more than two years’ time to finish a structure at such a vital location. They should try to finish construction work at such a busy junction on a priority basis.’’

A.B. Mohanty, a banker, added: “The travel time between the stretches between Kalpana and AG Square and Forest Park and Master Canteen has increased 30 to 40 minutes. All this is due to the traffic mess near the construction site at Rajmahal Square. Even ambulances get stuck up there.”

“The work should have been done taking the help of latest technology like what was adopted by the engineers in New Delhi where a stretch of Metro Railway was completed in a month or two. The engineers should have similar technology to complete construction work of this flyover quickly,” said businessman Bijay Kumar Singh.

Durga Prasad Pradhan, an MCA student of Utkal University, said: “Residents have to face some difficulties when such construction works are executed. But we have to look at the future prospects of constructing a flyover at this busy junction. Once complete, the flyover will provide non-stop commuting facility from the Kalpana Square to AG Square. But the engineers, however, should speed up the execution process.’’

Commenting on the situation, executive engineer (Division II) of PWD, Ranjit Sahu said: “As the work is still under progress, public has to bear the situation with us. Once the central pillars are erected, we can allow the traffic from Forest Park to Master Canteen, and Kalpana to AG Square to pass through the pillars.’’

A senior traffic official of the city police said that the traffic problem had really put the commuters in distress. “We have already inspected the area and would like to deploy more personnel there to ease the traffic congestion. The problem will increase when the entire traffic will have to be diverted through the penultimate spans when the central pillars will be erected. So we have already urged the PWD officials to inform us in advance when they are going to construct the central spans,’’ he said, adding “the traffic officials will remove the median on the Master Canteen—Rajmahal Square stretch to facilitate traffic within a day or two.’’

“The construction of the flyover in Rajmahal Square has created severe traffic problems. We are now thinking about traffic management at the sites of five other flyovers which being planned on NH-5 by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). We would ensure quick execution of construction work in all these places,’’ he added.

A retired engineer, who now works as a consultant said: “The very concept of flyover has now become obsolete in Europe as the experts there experienced that after a certain point, one cannot go beyond flyovers. Expansion of the road from AG Square to Kalpana could have been made with less investment as the area is occupied by the government. If a road near Unit-IX can pass through quarters, then why not this one? Also, there was scope to widen the circle at Rajmahal Square to retain its old charm. While the world is going back to wider circles and roads to end congestion, I fail to understand how the flyover at this junction will put an end to all the traffic woes here.’’

“The end-part of the flyover will culminate just before the Unit-I Market. But as the market all set to get a multi-storeyed makeover, how would the flyover help traffic?’’ he asked.