Bhubaneswar, Nov. 27: Delay in shifting electric poles and demolishing boundary walls has pushed back work on the four-laning of the 300-metre road that runs parallel to Sachivalaya Marg and links the old bus stand to lower PMG Square.

The road plays a crucial role when the Assembly is in session as traffic on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg is often diverted to this stretch.

“The work has been going on for the past two years. It is stuck between Idco auditorium and the PMG Square. If the pace of work doesn’t pick up, the wait will prolong for the commuters,” said Satya Sabat, a resident.

The project started in the first week of March last year, but it has made little progress. While the expansion work has been undertaken near IG Park, stones chips are lying scattered on both sides of the expanded portion making it difficult for the vehicles to ply.

The roads and buildings division officials said that utility services such as electric poles belonging to other government agencies have been creating obstacles for the work. There are 10 electric poles belonging to the general electrical department and 16 lampposts of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation on the road that are yet to be removed.

Moreover, the boundary wall of Sardar Patel Hall and some government quarters belonging to the general administration (GA) department also need to be shifted or demolished. A few trees also have to be removed for the expansion.

“We had written to all the departments concerned. While some have done their bit, others are yet to take steps. We hope they will all take decisions as soon as possible to help speed up the work,” said executive engineer of division-I of public works department (PWD), Jaladhar Pradhan. He said the electrical department has been paid Rs 46 lakh for laying underground cables.

The general electrical department has started its work and has assured to finish it by the end of November. The civic body has also been paid Rs 4.62 lakh to remove its lampposts.

“We have written to the assembly secretary to take a decision on shifting of the boundary wall of Sardar Patel Hall and the GA department quarters. Once that is done, we are planning to finish the road work by the December end,” Pradhan said.

The road is being expanded for Rs 1.86 crore.

Officials said that after the four-laning, works department would undertake the expansion of the stretch between lower PMG and Exhibition Ground that passes behind the Keshari Talkies. As there are several electric transformers and government quarters close to the road, instead of going for four-laning, the authorities would just expand this stretch, said an official.