Cuttack, Oct. 12: The city is staring at massive traffic chaos this festive season.

Commuters blame encroachments by vendors and Durga Puja committees for the traffic chaos in the city.

"Already, there has been an extra flow of vehicular traffic in Cuttack, which is one of the major commercial centres in the state, ahead of the festive season," said Umesh Pradhan, a commuter.

People from all parts of the state are now thronging the city for Puja shopping. Most of the city's arterial roads, particularly those near major traffic junctions such as Ranihat, Badambadi, Mangalabag, College Square, Buxi Bazar and Badambadi, are facing huge traffic jams due to the rush of vehicles.

"Vehicles are being parked illegally on both sides of the roads, while street vendors have also encroached on major portions of these stretches creating problems in the smooth flow of traffic," said Sanjay Mohanty, another commuter.

Commuters blamed the failure of the police to implement the no-parking and vending zone systems for the traffic chaos in the city.

So far, there has been no check on arbitrary parking and encroachment near traffic signals since the system was introduced.

The police had introduced the system in August following an order issued by Orissa High Court to clear the city's major roads and junctions of traffic congestion. According to the system, no vehicles are allowed to park within 40m of any major traffic signal. Similarly, vendors cannot set up shops with its 40m radius.

Though the police have installed signboards at nearly 20 identified places in the city, they have failed to streamline vehicular traffic at major junctions.

P.K. Dalai, assistant commissioner of police (traffic), however, claimed that nearly 10 to 15 violators were being penalised Rs 500 every day for illegal parking and obstructing the road at identified no-parking and no-vending zones.

"We have decided to launch a crackdown on the violators at the no-parking and no-vending zones after the Durga Puja as major roads are now being used for the construction of pandals," said Dalai.

"The police should not allow any construction work on any road," said a commuter.