Bhubaneswar, Nov. 19: One can go across the city without getting stuck at traffic signals once the plan submitted by the Hyderabad-based Highways Bridges and Structures (HBS) Infra Engineers India Private Limited to the state government works out.

The plan envisages a two-lane double-decker flyover from Kalpana Square to Ravi Talkies Square to handle the increasing traffic pressure. This structure will have a connecting link with the Rajmahal flyover so that the traffic from Rajpath, Janpath, Cuttack Road and Vivekananda Marg can use it.

The public works department (PWD) will execute the project. According to a survey conducted by the PWD, the total number of vehicles passing through the road in a single day is 1,28,891. If one converts it to passenger car units (PCUs), the number is 1,37,738 a day and during peak hours, the narrow road is causing traffic congestion that slows down traffic movement between 9.30am and 11.30am and 5pm and 8pm.

PCU is a unit calculated as 1 for a private car, 0.5 for a bike, 0.2 for bicycle, 4 for horse-driven vehicle and 3.5 for bus, tractor or truck.

"HBS was asked to conduct a topography, traffic survey, congestion plan for different junctions over the stretch, do the engineering drawings and cost estimation exercise. The engineering drawings and the three-dimensional models are ready and the cost estimation is yet to be carried out," PWD chief engineer (roads) Bharat Chandra Pradhan told The Telegraph.

Pradhan, however, hinted that the project cost could be around Rs 150 crore and the plan would take into account the three major locations - Kalpana Square, BMC Square and Ravi Talkies Square - into account because the traffic generation and flow on Cuttack Road is influenced by these junctions. He also hinted that after preparation of a detailed project report on the project, the time limit and cost factors would be found.

He said there would be several grade separators at several junctions so that people travelling in their vehicles could change paths or choose a continuous path on the flyover.

"For example, a person driving down from the Rasulgarh-end can choose either to go to Puri straight or take a path to go down near the BMC office to go to Old Town or the Mausi Maa temple area," he said.

Structural engineer Subhakanta Swain said: "This new structure will definitely help the public as a major road in the city is getting congested due to the lack of infrastructure."

PWD sources said the department had already requested the development authority and the civic body to take steps for construction of the flyover.