Ekamra Square and (above) a construction site on the stretch between Ekamra Square and Sishu Bhavan Square. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 9: The city management group has given nod to a proposal to widen the 800-metre stretch between Sishu Bhavan Square and Ekamra Square.

The group, being the nodal agency, takes decision on issues related to the city’s development.

Field employees of the general administration department and the civic body have started a survey to know the land status before the works department takes up the project.

With opening of the new domestic terminal and an increase in habitations around the airport, the road has become overcrowded. The expansion will help decongest the area.

“All the roads in the city under the works department had been expanded in the past several years, but this road was left out,” said a works department engineer.

Sources, however, said as the plots on the Forest Park side of the road was allotted to retired bureaucrats and influential people, the expansion was delayed.

A patch to be included in the expansion move is used for plantation by the nearby plot owners.

Sources said the government had given permissive possession to 29 plot owners on the Forest Park side of Sishu Bhavan road so that it could be taken back to carry out the expansion job. However, the project was never taken up. Of the 29 plots, six belonged to retired chief secretaries of the state government.

The original road was 80-feet wide, but it has been reduced to almost half with the development of greenery by the residents.

Sishu Bhavan Square

Sources said that under normal circumstances such possession could be vacated whenever the government wanted the land back. But in this particular case, there had been no government move to execute the road expansion project. This is being attributed to the clout that the house owners wield in the government.

Special secretary of the works department Niten Chandra, who is also the convener of the group, told The Telegraph: “The process to identify land for the expansion of the road has started. Besides, survey is on to know the amount of land available so that the works department can begin construction.”

Assistant engineer with the works department Prabhat Mohapatra said: “The first step has started with the survey. After it is over, we can go for estimation, and then it will be included in the annual budget of our division.”

Such structures have shrunk the road

Resident of Unit-VI near Forest Park Ashok Sahu said: “The expansion proposal will make commuting easy. With the city bus service, including the Airport-Nandankanan route, in place, the traffic has become more congested.”

A civic body official said: “If it comes to the notice that any house owner has encroached on any portion of land allotted by the general administrative department or constructed anything on the land permitted for plantation, those will be demolished.”

Lala Ashok Kumar Ray of Kharavela Nagar said: “The new airport road, which connects Capital Hospital Square and AG Square, is wide enough to carry the traffic load. But the Sishu Bhavan road going through Forest Park is so congested at times that those travelling from Mausima Square to the airport might find it difficult to reach the terminal on time.”

Bijay Mishra, who uses the road to reach Palaspalli, said: “The road is inside a VIP area but while all other stretches are wide enough to take traffic load, this particular route did not get attention.”

How long is the stretch where road-widening work will be carried out?

800 metres

How busy is the stretch between Sishu Bhavan Square and Ekamra Square?

Remains busy at peak hours (8am to 12noon and 5.30pm to 9pm)

How many vehicles pass through this stretch on a given day?

Between 2000 and 5000 a day, say PWD officials

What are the encroachments that block free movement of vehicles?

Encroachments are not on the road, but beautification and plantations along the road carried out more than 25 years ago. The original road, which was 80 feet wide, has now
become around 40 feet