Bhubaneswar, Oct. 23: The chaotic situation at the traffic intersection at the end of the Satya Nagar flyover on the Cuttack-Puri road inconveniences nearly every one who passes the stretch.
Vehicles heading towards the Cuttack-Puri road and Satya Nagar Big Bazaar ply through the intersection. The situation worsens during peak hours between 10am and 1pm and 5pm and 8pm. Scores of vehicles get stuck in traffic here.
"Traffic at the intersection is really bad and gets worse with vehicles travelling on the wrong side of the road," said Narendra Behera, 47, a state government employee and resident of Jharpada.
In 2013, a traffic policeman had been posted at the intersection for a few months. Since then no police personnel has been posted here to manage traffic.
"Autorickshaws and light goods vehicles block the road and the problem is worsened by buses coming from and going towards Puri," said Satyendra Bhuyan, 54, a businessman and resident of Rasulgarh. He said minor accidents were common at the intersection.
"Last month, a speeding motorcycle hit my car from the right but it was not entirely the biker's fault because he was just trying to negotiate the chaotic traffic."
Once a vehicle manages to reach the flyover, pedestrians crossing the road obstruct traffic. Besides, many vehicles, especially two-wheelers, take a short cut from the petrol pump side by driving on the wrong side to take the flyover. By doing this, they not only risk their lives but also that of others.
There is more to the problem. Vehicles use the space below the flyover to travel towards Jharpada. This inconveniences to those travelling on the Cuttack-Puri road.
In the absence of traffic policemen at the intersection, it has become a free-for-all at the stretch. Manoranjan Kar, 57, a PSU employee and resident of GGP Colony, said the gap below the flyover should be closed. Besides, a traffic policeman should be posted at the intersection.
An official of the public works department said the gap below the flyover could be closed to prevent movement of vehicles but only after a recommendation is received from the traffic police.
Bhubaneswar deputy police commissioner Satyabrat Bhoi said a traffic constable or a home guard would shortly be deployed at the intersection.