Cuttack: The first phase of the works department's four-lane project here, which is already running behind schedule, has hit another hurdle as the boundary wall of an electricity divisional office has come on the way.

The Rs 2.17-crore road widening project had been undertaken on a nearly 2km stretch from Cantonment Road near the Barabati Stadium to Biju Patnaik Chhak in January.

It was targeted to be completed by May.

But, work had remained suspended for months nearly on 1km stretch as the existing power transmission poles came in the way.

The work could be resumed only after Cuttack division of the Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) had relocated 20 electric poles a month ago. The works department's roads and buildings division in Cuttack had since gone ahead with the road construction and completed the expansion except for less than 50 metres of the 2km stretch, official sources said.

The existing roads under the project have been expanded to maintain the 7.5 metres width on both sides of the median.

The road expansion has remained suspended for nearly a week now as further construction of the new road was not possible owing to the eastern and southern boundary wall of a Cesu circle office.

The problem has arisen as a clearance of around 10ft to 12 ft land is required for construction of the new road to connect it with Biju Patnaik Chakh. And for it, the southern boundary wall has to be demolished and shifted 10ft to 2ft towards north, official sources said.

"It's strange that such bottlenecks was not sorted out when the expansion work had started nearly a year ago," said Bidanasi resident Satyaiit Roy, a daily commuter through that way.

However, Cuttack roads and buildings division executive engineer M.R. Khan said the problem had been resolved and Cesu had agreed to free up land within the circle office boundary wall.

"According to the understanding reached with Cesu, we will demolish the existing boundary wall and relocate the new one and also rebuild all the structures within that area that need to be demolished or relocated, at our expense," Khan said.

"We expect to complete the boundary wall relocation process and resume the road work in a month," he said.

In the second phase, road expansion will be taken up on the 3km stretch from Biju Patnaik Chhak to Sati Chaura via Kanika Square and Shelter Square.