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| Traffic chaos at Belle View crossing in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das |
Cuttack, May 11: The Belle View Square here is the perfect example of the chaotic traffic scenario in the Millennium City. To add to commuters’ woes, just a lone traffic constable has been deployed at this prominent junction to regulate traffic. This move has failed to streamline the rush here.
Hundreds of office goers, college students and other commuters depend on the road which acts as a connecting link between many vital areas including Orissa High Court, Badambadi, Barabati Stadium, CDA, Naraj and other areas via the Ring Road.
“There is a heavy rush and utter chaos on the particular junction as vehicles from CDA, Naraj side and Badambadi, high court and Sati Choura side converge at this point,” said Subhranshu Das (29), a commuter.
“We hardly see any traffic constable regulating traffic in the major junctions. Moreover, the Belle View crossing has become an accident-prone junction due to lack of adequate measures to streamline traffic movement here,” said Ashok Mohanty (35), another commuter.
Hundreds of heavy vehicles, including trucks and buses, ply on the Ring Road causing problems for commuters, especially at this particular crossing.
According to local residents, there has been a rise in the number of accidents at the crossing because there is a huge deposit of sand due to sand mining in the area.
“There has been a rise in the number of road accidents because many two-wheeler riders fail to control their vehicles as there is huge deposit of sand at the crossing,” said Sanjiv Jena (32), a local resident.
Besides this, rash driving on the Ring Road is another area of concern because most of the accidents are caused are due to speeding.
On the other hand, traffic sources said adequate steps were being taken to streamline traffic management in the city.
“Following directions of the high court, adequate steps are being taken to streamline traffic system in the city and a lot of initiatives have been introduced in this regard,” said an official.
Recently, 20 additional traffic constables have been deployed at various unmanned streets and crossings during peak hours including Belle View.