Bhubaneswar, April 17: A road project between Netaji Subhash Enclave at Gadakana and Damana Square remains incomplete apparently because of the negligence of the development authority.

The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) began construction of the 1.3-km-long and 100-foot-wide road in 2011. However, the work has come to a halt midway because the BDA has failed to acquire land for the purpose.

Now, while both ends of the road are complete, no work has been done on a 300-metre stretch in between causing difficulties for local residents who were excited about the project.

“Even two years after the project began, the portion connecting the two stretches remains a muddy patch. First-time visitors get lost and are caught in the middle of nowhere,” said a local resident, not willing to be named.

Gadakana is expected to become the next real-estate hub under the Chandrasekharpur zone.

This road is supposed to link Netaji Subash Enclave directly with Damana Square. There is no proper road network from the locality towards Sailashree Vihar and Chandrasekharpur. The enclave has 304 houses belonging to the high-income group.

Sabyasachi Sahu, a trader who stays at Gadakana, is not happy with the way the BDA has handled the project.

“Once completed, the road will become the lifeline of the area, which is undergoing rapid expansion after the development of the Netaji Subash Enclave. The construction had started at both ends but hasn’t progressed in the middle. Commuters coming from Damana-end get confused as there is no direction sign near the diversion,” he said.

BDA engineering department chief Ashutosh Mallick said: “The project has been stalled as there is some problem with land acquisition. We will start work as soon as we get the required land, which belongs to the local people.”

However, local residents are not willing to buy this theory. Manoranjan Jena, a businessman and resident of Gadakana, said: “We have not got any notice from the BDA on land acquisition. Though I have a plot near the road, I have built my shop leaving ample space for the road work. The BDA should expedite the work at the earliest without offering lame excuses.”

The BDA is also constructing a large park named after Odissi legend Kelucharan Mohapatra at Gadakana. The 20-acre park will have a statue of Kelucharan Mohapatra.

“The authorities are trying to develop so many things in this area. The neglect of the road project is beyond our comprehension. The authorities should complete it by this year-end,’’ Sahu added.

Councillor Madan Majhi also criticised the attitude of the development authority. “I have met the officers in charge of the project and apprised them of the resentment of the local people over the incomplete road. They seemed least bothered,’’ he said.