Bhubaneswar: March 29: Commuters are facing inconvenience while crossing the waterlogged underpass near Vani Vihar railway overbridge on the national highway.

The sudden rain last evening has left the underpass filled with water, creating problem for those who use it to go from VSS Nagar, Satsang Vihar and Mancheswar to Saheed Nagar and the central part of the city.

The delay in constructing an approach road from Satsang Vihar in front of the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee park, coupled with the waterlogging problem, has forced the commuters to take the longer route from Satsang Vihar Square to Vani Vihar Square.

"It seems that the authorities are not worried about the commuters' problems. There is a delay in constructing the approach road, and the materials remain dumped near the passage. The rainwater accumulated there does not recede soon. Besides, there are chances of rain on most of the summer evenings, and this passage would become waterlogged every time it rains," said Satsang Vihar resident Dhrupad Rout.

Local people also complained that the fruit vendors in front of the park tend to dump their remnants on the under-construction approach road. Besides, there are no light posts installed near the passage - which deters people to use this road in the evening.

"It's meaningless to take the wrong route till Vani Vihar Square. But, the authorities leave us with no choice," said Rangamathia resident Bhramarabar Mohanty.

Over one lakh people, residing on the other side of the highway, have to travel up to Rasulgarh Square or Vani Vihar to cross it. Besides, several government offices and educational institutions are located in these areas and their vehicles are also forced to take the longer route.

An official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said they had been working on all the underpasses constructed under the new flyovers and the work would finish shortly. "As the work is going on at various places, people have been facing problems. Within a month or two, things will be fall in places," he said.

Assistant commissioner of police (traffic) Jatindra Panda said he would talk to the NHAI officials about the delay in the approach road construction. "This road will definitely solve traffic problem at Vani Vihar, and we hope that they will take up the work as soon as possible and people will use the underpass smoothly," said Panda.