A cyclist rides through a potholed street in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Oct. 4: The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) is racing against time to complete repair work and spruce up roads in the city before the Dussehra.

On September 15, Orissa High Court had set the pre-Dussehra deadline for completion of repair work in all the main roads, lanes and bylanes while monitoring civic problems of the city.

But, the deteriorating condition of roads dominated the preparatory meeting for the Durga Puja by the district administration on September 29, with most of the puja organising committees demanding road repair in their localities.

“Improvement of the roads is essential for a smooth Durga Puja in the city in view of the increase in volume of traffic. The condition of main roads become all the more vital when the 150 puja mandaps across the city will organise processions on the immersion day,” said Manoranjan Sahu, secretary of College Chakh puja committee.

Acting on a PIL, when a bench of the high court monitored the progress of road repair work on October 1, it was informed that there had been virtually no improvement in the condition of roads.

The condition of the roads deteriorate from bad to worse due to lack of maintenance as the CMC and state works department remain mute spectators, the amicus curiae had pointed out.

Taking note of it, the high court had warned the CMC and directed the state government to ensure completion of road repair work before the Dussehra.

The CMC is responsible for the maintenance of 390km of the total 576km of roads in the city.

“Repair work for the roads is already underway. We will complete the repairing all the roads, which are under control of the CMC, by October 10,” mayor Saumendra Ghosh told The Telegraph.