Cuttack, March 13: Lack of ample scope for widening of roads due to encroachments is now affecting the lives of the residents of Cuttack. The commuters are having a harrowing time while negotiating heavy traffic on major streets in the city.

The Kanika Square Road, which is one of the important roads, is unable to accommodate rising number of automobiles plying everyday on city streets.

“It is one of the major roads and there is a heavy rush of traffic during peak hours. Most of the commuters face problems due to traffic congestion as no step has been taken to regulate traffic movement in the area,” said Prashant Das (45), a local resident.

The Kanika Square Road acts as a connecting link between Chandi Mandir Square and Ring Road via Saidani Bagicha and Shelter Chhak.

There is no white line marking (which acts as divider) on the road from Chandi Mandir Square up to Shelter chhak via Kanika Square. As a result, the vehicles overtake on the wrong side creating problems for other commuters, Das added. Although two electronic traffic signals have been introduced — one at Chandi Mandir Square and another at Sati Choura — which has to some extent regulated the movement of traffic in the respective areas, as the road is relatively wider.

“The stretch of road from Kanika Square, Saidani Bagicha and Shelter Chhak is too narrow and is not in a straight line. The commuters themselves have to negotiate with the heavy rush at the crossings,” said Asim Das (47), another local resident.

“The main stretch of the road from Buxi Bazar to Kanika Square via Mission Road and Chandi Mandir Square is always chock-a-block with traffic. Though traffic constables have also been deployed at Kanika Square, it has failed to solve traffic congestion in the area as the road is narrow,” said Kartik Rath (51), a commuter.

On the other hand, traffic sources admitted that lack of scope for widening of roads was creating hurdles for the smooth flow of traffic in the city.

“A number of new measures have been introduced to streamline traffic movement in various streets in the city. But encroachment on either side of roads is the biggest hurdle to smooth flow of traffic here,” said an official.

Both the electronic traffic signal at Chandi Mandir Square and Sati Choura are working well. Similarly, traffic constables have been deployed at Kanika Square to regulate traffic there.

Moreover, regular drives are also being held to stop parking in the no parking zone at many points.

A big parking lot has to a great extent eased off parking related issues at Kanika Square and steps are being taken to regulate traffic also, the official added.