Work on the expansion of NH-5 under way between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Feb. 28: Orissa High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct a flyover and vehicular underpasses at five major intersections on NH-5 between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

The court hoped that a flyover at Balikuda would ensure smooth flow of traffic in all directions — Cuttack to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack to Barang and Banki thereof. It also hoped that underpasses at Gopalpur, Paikanagar, Pratapnagari, Nuagarh would prevent accidents.

The court issued the order on Monday on the basis of a report submitted by the traffic management committee constituted by it for Cuttack city.

The ongoing six-lane work undertaken by the NHAI on the NH-5 between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar had come under judicial scrutiny for alleged non-provisioning of underpasses and crossways at major intersections between the two cities.

Nagarik Surakhsya Manch, comprising residents of Gopalpur, Balikuda, Govindpur and Bamphkund in ward Nos. 52, 53 and 54 of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), had filed a petition seeking intervention of the high court for inclusion of underpasses and over bridge for vehicles and pedestrians in the ongoing six-lane work on the highway.

Acting on it, the PIL bench for civic problems in Cuttack city had asked the traffic management committee to examine the ground realities vis-à-vis the proposed road expansion plan. Accordingly, a sub-committee headed by commissioner of (Cuttack-Bhubaneswar) police made an on the spot survey and prepared a report, which was submitted on Monday.

“After perusal of the report, the division bench of Justice B.P. Das and Justice M.M. Das directed the NHAI to include a flyover at Balikuda and vehicular underpasses at Gopalpur, Paikanagar, Pratapnagari, Nuagarh in the ongoing six-lane work undertaken on the NH-5 between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar,” said amicus curiae Pravat Ranjan Dash, who was also a member of the committee.

For Pratapnagari, the committee observed that “construction of a vehicular underpass near Sky Automobiles is the best alternative to address the grievances of the general public”.

An underpass at Nuagarh had become necessary as the village has been bisected by the NH-5. The report said: “In the absence of a full-fledged connectivity between the two parts, local residents are facing a lot of difficulties”.

For Gopalpur, the committee suggested construction of a underpass with lighting facility at some distance from the Kathajodi bridge towards Balikuda.