Sishu Bhavan crossing before and (below) after The Telegraph on July 7 and 16 reported on missing road dividers leading to traffic chaos. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, July 19: City traffic police have finally started to plug-in loopholes that had earlier resulted in traffic woes at prominent places in the city.

The gaps between delineators (tall pylons similar to plastic cones that are used as road dividers) at Mangalabag intersection have now been reduced. Earlier, many commuters were using such gaps to crossover.

Now, stop-boards have been installed at the gaps to prevent the entry of two-wheelers that was creating a number of problems for other commuters at the crossing.

“Stop-boards have recently been placed near the gaps of the road divider. Earlier, many commuters were travelling from one end of the crossing to the other through the gaps which was creating traffic problems,” said Satyajit Sahu, 31, a resident.

Sahu also said the delineators that have been damaged at many places at the Managalabag crossing were not replaced for over a month. As a result, traffic violation was rampant here as commuters were easily crossing over through such gaps.

There is a heavy rush and congestion at Mangalabag Square, where many government institutions and the SCB Medical College and Hospital are located.

Mangalabag, which acts as connecting link, is also the converging point for the vehicles coming from Buxi Bazar, Nuapatana, Cantonment, College Square and Ranihat sides.

Local residents have welcomed the move to plug-in the minor loopholes that were resulting in traffic chaos at the particular junction.

“Traffic violations will be checked. Already, the gaps between the plastic road dividers have been blocked. It will help the traffic personnel ensure that nobody is further allowed to crossover till the red light turns green,” said Mihir Swain, 42, a local resident.

Apart from this, steps have also been taken by traffic officials to close the cut-point behind Sishu Bhavan gate that was wrongly opened recently.

Two cut-points behind Sishu Bhavan gate on the Ring Road, that was earlier closed following the death of an advocate couple of months ago, were recently opened. However, the authorities had claimed that out of the two cut-points on the road divider, one was wrongly opened.

The Telegraph had pointed out both the lacunae on July 7 and July 16 respectively.

“The gaps at Mangalabag crossing as well the cut-point behind Sishu Bhavan on Ring Road have been closed and efforts are on to ensure that there are no traffic violations,” said a traffic officer.