Heavy vehicles are often seen flouting no-entry rules in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 4: Dearth of manpower had prompted failure in carrying out certain drives, which are part of regular enforcement of the traffic rules, in the city, traffic sources said.

At present, there were 140 traffic constables deployed instead of the required 180 for better traffic management in the city, said the city traffic department.

Last month, though over Rs 8 lakh was collected for various traffic violations, including non-wearing of helmet, illegal parking, over speed, drunken driving, road encroachments and other violations, yet heavy vehicles continue to flout the no-entry rules in the city, causing problems to the commuters during peak hours.

Moreover, no signboards have been installed to ensure and earmark the areas as no-entry zones. A traffic official said adequate measures were being taken to strictly enforce the no-entry rules.

As many as 56 cases of such violation were detected and a compounding fee of 29,500 was realised last month.

Though the entry of six-wheelers, trucks and tractors with trailers has been restricted from 8am to 10pm, a complete check, so far, has not been possible within the city limits.

The situation is more acute on the busy stretch of Bajrakabati connecting with Proffessorpada, College Square and Chhatrabazar, Mahatab Road, Barabati Stadium Road, Jagatpur and Mahanadi Vihar.

“Trucks are freely moving in the city, especially from the Friends Colony side to Proffessorpada via Bajrakabati Canal Road even during peak hours,” said Nishikant Sahu, a local resident.

Sahu said Bajrakabati Road was already struggling to accommodate vehicular traffic converging from College Square, Ranihat, Mangalabag, Dolmundai and Badambadi side and the movement of heavy vehicles has only compounded the commuters’ miseries.

Many believe that lack of supervision by traffic officials is to be blamed for such violations. “At least the officials should ensure that no heavy vehicles except emergency services are allowed to use major roads during peak hours,” said Shantanu Lenka, a commuter.

Traffic sources said tractors engaged with the essential services of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation and the public health department were exempted. But, most of the time such vehicles were responsible for traffic congestion on busy roads and also fined for illegal parking and road encroachment, the official said.

Similarly, heavy vehicles such as trucks engaged in transportation of vegetables and other foodgrains to and from Malgodown and Chhatrabazar are allowed to use the Malgodown flyover and enter and exit through the same.

However, many truck drivers are seen availing College Square and Pilgrim Road to move towards Jobra and the national highway.