Paradip port. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Jan. 19: Over three thousand contractual daily labourers engaged in several industrial units and Paradip port today failed to make their way to the port town because of the chaotic vehicular traffic on the Paradip-Daitary expressway.

Ore-laden trucks heading towards the port have also remained stranded en route in what was the worst traffic jam in recent memory with nearly 15km stretch of the national highway jampacked with rows of cargo-loaded trucks.

Normal life in the villages on both sides of the highway near Paradip and Kendrapara was thrown out of gear owing to the traffic jam.

“We waited for hours but could not reach Paradip. Traffic did not move an inch. We all were stranded on the highway,” said Narrotam Puhan (48), a contractual labourer of a Paradip-based fertilizer plant.

“Traffic jam on this route has turned into a regular affair. Authorities do not routinely regulate traffic here. Policemen on traffic control duty are also party to traffic nuisance as they allow the loaded trucks to breach the queue against bribe,” said a daily commuter to Paradip.

“The administration is trying to restore traffic order on the highway. No more trucks would be allowed to enter this stretch of the highway for the next two days. The restriction would remain in force till the stranded trucks unload ores in the port,” said sub-collector Ranjan Kumar Das.