Sambalpur, Sept. 4: The roads and buildings department is yet to complete widening of 2.06km-road stretch between Fatak flyover to Ainthapali, even after nine years since its inception in 2003.

Though the construction is under way, the authorities cannot figure out the boundary line of the road because of encroachments on both the sides. The department has failed to identify the median or centre of the road.

A source said: “An amount of Rs 485.445 lakh has been received till date from the Western Odisha Development Council and other agencies.”

“Even shouldering done on both sides of the road is not uniform as cement concrete pre-cast blocks have been used in some places while blacktopping and concrete have been done in some areas. The stretch has been damaged at several places because of regular digging to repair water-leaking pipes,which pass beneath the road,” said Prashanta Sahu, a local resident.

“The authority should request the district administration for eviction of the squatters from both sides of the road, to facilitate widening. This is highly essential as it is one of the busiest roads of the city. The commuters will be relieved from traffic chaos if the widening is completed,” he said.

“One can see electric poles, telephone poles, electric transformers, tube well and garbage dumping yard on the road. These poles should be removed from the road to facilitate the work. The authority should take urgent measure for the widening,” said Rajesh Mishra, a commuter.

Sub-divisional officer of roads and buildings department P.K. Nath said: “We have requested the district administration to remove the encroachments, so that the widening and improvement of the could be done. We have written the divisional forest officer to allow us to remove some trees along the road. We have also written to the Western Electricity Supply Company to remove the electric poles from the stretch.”

Nath said funds had been sanctioned for the construction of drain along the road. “After the rainy season, the construction of the drain and the widening will begin,” he said.