Cuttack: A delay by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in approving the proposed underpass on NH-16 has left the project hanging fire.

The underpass was planned as a substitute for closing the cut-point at the Sikharpur traffic crossing - a converging point from Mahanadi Vihar, Nayabazar and Chauliaganj on the eastern side of the highway and Gandarpur, Sikharpur and Jobra on the western side.

Though the underpass is essential for people on both sides of the highway once the cut-point is closed, the NHAI is yet to issue orders approving the proposal.

The issue figured at Cuttack's Traffic Management Committee's monthly meeting on Friday, chaired by police commissioner Y.B. Khurania.

"We discussed the issue as closing the Sikharpur crossing is essential to cope with increasing mishaps at the junction. At the same time, an underpass or flyover within a few metres of the cut-point on the highway is also essential," said committee member Pravat Ranjan Dash.

The cut-point was closed last October after the NHAI developed a service road for an underpass at Kaliaboda, half a kilometre from the crossing. However, it was reopened a week later following opposition by local residents.

The decision to reopen it was taken after a sub-committee of the traffic management committee submitted a report stating that the service road developed along with the underpass at Kaliaboda was not a feasible alternative as it was too narrow to accommodate the traffic diverted due to the closure of the cut-point.

Accordingly, the committee submitted the proposal for an underpass at or near the cut-point to the NHAI. "The NHAI official present at the meeting said the proposal was under process for approval," assistant commissioner of police (traffic) P.K. Dalai said.

The local puja committee has also opposed the cut-point closure on grounds that it would affect around 20,000 people on both sides of the highway as they would have to travel an additional 1,000 to 2,000 metre on both sides.

Sikharpur-Gandarpur Pu-ja Committee secretary Jayanta Kumar Pradhan said: "We are not opposed to then cut-point closure after an underpass or flyover is constructed close to the junction."

The traffic committee had felt that the increasing number of accidents would be reduced if the cut-point was closed. Around 40 to 50 accidents are reported on average from the spot every month, official reports indicated.