Bhubaneswar, July 24: Two major junctions on the NH 5 - Fire Station and Baramunda - see heavy flow of traffic throughout the day and night, but bad traffic management makes it dangerous to negotiate these points, motorists and pedestrians have complained.
Commuters at Fire Station Square said they either find one or no traffic cop deployed here to manage the heavy flow of vehicles. "It is a rare instance to find a traffic cop here. It is often very difficult to ply safely through this junction because of traffic congestion and flow of heavy vehicles in the absence of traffic personnel," said Surya Nagar resident Girija Satapathy.
On the national highway, Fire Station Square is one of the major junctions, which falls at the intersection between the Sum Hospital and Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology. "In the morning, only one cop manages the traffic - a difficult task. At times, it becomes dangerous to commute through this junction. After 6pm, there is no cop here at all," said Malipada resident Sumit Mishra.
Similar is the case with Baramunda Square, a crucial junction because it is close to the city bus terminal. More than 500 buses halt at the terminal every day. The junction is located on the underpass of a flyover. This junction, too, hardly ever has a traffic cop on duty.
"This junction can be said to be one of the most dangerous in the city considering the flow of heavy vehicles. Bus drivers drive recklessly here, making it very dangerous for pedestrians and motorists. I have never seen a traffic cop here," said Dibyansh Jena, a shopkeeper here.
Satya Hota, a daily passenger from Jatni to the city, said he had a narrow escape a few months ago when he saved himself from being hit by a speeding bus at the last moment. "Since there is no traffic police here, motorists drive through in a haphazard manner. They rarely abide by rules. A speeding bus was about to hit me in April, I was saved because of my presence of mind," said Hota.
The twin cities traffic, however, scoffed at the allegations and said they had deployed enough personnel at each important junction in the city, especially on the highway. "Commuters should file their complaints at the base level with traffic police. I will look into the matter if it is communicated to me," said traffic DCP N.N. Bohidar.
