Sambalpur, March 10: The work on the comprehensive transportation plan for the city is yet to begin because of unavailability of funds.

The civil engineering department of the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology at Burla has been entrusted with the responsibility to prepare the plan for the city.

'They want a short-term plan. However, a survey is required for the preparation. Moreover, we need several data. It will take at least 45 days to prepare the plan,' said teacher in the civil engineering department of the university Sudhansu Sekhar Dash.

'Some funds are required for the survey and the collection of data. We had also written to provide us Rs 1.5 lakh for the work around one-and-a-half months ago. However, we are yet to get the funds for the purpose. Therefore, we have not been able to start work,' said Dash.

Sambalpur superintendent of police Akhilesvar Singh, however, said the funds for the preparation of the plan would be provided shortly.

On the other hand, the delay in preparation of the comprehensive traffic plan has irked residents. 'Traffic situation here is a matter of concern. Most of the arterial roads witness severe traffic snarls every day. It is unfortunate that the work on the plan preparation is yet to begin because of unavailability of funds,' said Supreet Panda, a commuter.

'As Sambalpur is an old city, the roads are narrow. On the other hand, the number of vehicles has increased in the past few years. Traffic jam is a regular phenomenon on all the arterial roads of the city. The transportation plan could find a solution to the increasing traffic problem in the city,' said Biswa Patnaik, a resident.

'Sambalpur has already been given the corporation status. However, the traffic scenario is pathetic here. It is necessary to devise a plan to improve it,' Laxmidhar Das, a daily commuter.