Traffic personnel enforce no-entry rule in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 11: Police recently introduced a one-way traffic system between Dargha Bazar and High Court Chhak to ease congestion in the city. While some people are happy with it, others are not.

Since Thursday, the stretch has become a “no-entry” zone, especially for three and four-wheelers, including hand-driven rickshaws and autorickshaws.

Vehicles coming from Chandni Chhak, Stony Road, Dagarpada and Ring Road are not allowed to move straight towards Balu Bazar, Naya Sarak and Dargha Bazar from the high court side. However, those coming from Naya Sarak and Dargha Bazar are to head towards High Court Chhak. The restrictions on traffic flow are enforced between 9am and 9pm and anyone violating the rule will have to pay a fine of Rs 500.

“We have introduced the one-way system to put a check on severe congestion in prominent areas, including high court, Balu Bazar, Naya Sarak and Dargha Bazar routes,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

The decision to introduce the one-way traffic system was earlier taken at the meeting of the traffic management committee after it reviewed the commuters’ problems due to congestion on the busy route.

Commuters have reacted differently to the new system.

“We are happy that the traffic officials have finally intervened and initiated proper measures to streamline vehicular traffic on this route,” said Mohammadia Bazar resident Abdul Kadir Khan.

Khan said it used to take nearly 20 minutes to cover the less-than-2km distance from Dargha Bazar to High Court Chhak due to congestion during the peak hours.

“Commuters, particularly those coming from the Badambadi side and Jhola Sahi on three and four-wheelers will face problems as they will not be allowed to move towards Dargha Bazar via Choudhry Bazar,” said Sutahat resident Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra.

Mohapatra said the police should implement the one-way system from High Court Chhak to Choudhry Bazar instead of Dargha Bazar as the district headquarters hospital, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Museum and other commercial centres are located at Dargha Bazar.

Commuters coming from Telenga Bazar and heading towards Dargha Bazar will also face similar problems due to the new system. An official said that though the one-way traffic had been introduced, various issues and problems would be reviewed after 15 days and necessary changes would also be made for convenience of the commuters.