Partly damaged speed breakers dot several stretches in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 2: Motorists need to be extra cautious while crossing traffic junctions as speed breakers remain damaged at various places in the city.

The purpose of installing speed breakers has failed, as police are yet to take steps to repair or replace the damaged or outdated speed breakers. Besides, the inordinate delay has also led to resentment as accidents are occurring at regular intervals.

The situation has assumed serious proportions at three prominent locations at Rajabagicha, Ganesh Ghat and Rural Police Junction on Ring Road. Besides, commuters are using the wide openings giving hardly any scope for others to cross the busy intersections.

“There is utter chaos at the Rajabagicha crossing as the speed breakers that were installed last year remained damaged for the past three months. Commuters, especially from Jhanjir Mangala and Bikash Bhawan sides, are facing problems in crossing the junction,” said local resident Pradeep Behera.

Behera said the Rajabagicha crossing was one of the busiest junctions and a connecting link between prominent areas, including Badambadi, Khannagar, Dolmundai and Puri Ghat.

Similarly, chaos also prevails at the Rural Police and Ganesh Ghat crossing on Ring Road. Everyday, hundreds of commuters use Ring Road to travel to various parts within the city. Traffic officials installed speed breakers at 10 prominent places, including at Khannagar, Police Club, Popular Nursing Home, Jobra, OMP, Daya Ashram, Shelter Chhak, YMCA Road and other places, last year.

The cops had also installed humps near Shailabala Women’s College after The Telegraph, in a report published on December 18, 2012, had highlighted the problem of rash driving on the stretch from Buxi Bazar to Cantonment via Mission road.

“At least two minor accidents are occurring on a daily basis at Ganesh Ghat crossing. Motorists coming from Telenga Bazar near Hotel Blue Lagoon and intending to move towards the high court area have to risk their lives to cross the junction,” said Dilip Bhuiyan, a commuter.

On the other hand, deputy commissioner of police Sanjiv Arora also admitted that bulk of the speed breakers had failed to serve its purpose while urgent measures would be taken to rectify such lacuna.

“We will ask concerned officials of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation and the public works department to either repair or install new bumpers that have been damaged. Similarly, steps will also be taken to ensure vehicular traffic is streamlined in the city,” said Arora.