Bhubaneswar, Nov. 7: Driving on the wrong side has emerged as a major traffic problem here.

At several major intersections in the city, it doesn't take much to spot vehicles on the wrong side. Lack of enforcement and tardy action against offenders has added to the problem. The situation is acute at the stretch between Master Canteen Squ-are and Ram Mandir Square. Vehicles moving towards Sriya Talkies Square often travel on the wrong side putting other motorists at risk.

This stretch is among the busiest in the city. Since it is a four-lane road, one of it is reserved for parking cars.

"Vehicles, especially two-wheelers don't care about traffic regulations and drive on the wrong side endangering motorists coming from Ram Mandir Square," said Mahendra Behera, 54, a businessman who stays at Kharavela Nagar.

Behera said most vehicles intending to enter the by-lanes along the main road, move on the wrong side. The only cut on the stretch after Sriya Talkies Square is at Master Canteen Square. The traffic police closed the cut in front of Swosti Hotel at Master Canteen Square more than a year ago because it was prone to accidents.

The stretch on the Cuttack-Puri road from Rasulgarh Square to Bomikhal too has become dangerous due to wrong-side driving. Interestingly, despite the under construction flyover from Bomi-khal to Saheed Nagar has created ample space for vehicles to pass under it to travel to the other side, drivers continue to drive on the wrong side. The road has become narrower because of the under-construction flyover and this adds to the problem.

"There is absolutely no monitoring by the traffic police to check offenders on the stretch," said Sarthak Sarangi, 39, a resident of Manorama Estate.

The intersection near Bapuji Nagar commercial area, around 100 metres from Rajmahal Square, is another spot where wrong-side driving has become a menace. Motorists emerging from Bapuji Nagar and going towards AG Square and Master Canteen Square drive on the wrong side on this busy intersection where autorickshaws wait to pick up passengers.

Motorists have not even spared the NH-5 flyover from Palasuni to Baramuda. The stretch near the slip road leading to Acharya Vihar Square from the flyover sees plenty of wrong-side driving.

"Wrong-side driving on the flyover is extremely dangerous because cars, on an average, travel at 60kmph there. Also, a large number of trucks use the flyover making it perilous for those driving on the wrong side," said a road transport authority official.

Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said the cops would shortly identify the spots where wrong-side driving was rampant. "We will take action against offenders," he assured.

Driving on the wrong side of the road is considered a traffic violation under section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. For the first offence, an offender may be booked for a six-month prison term or fined Rs 1,000. On the second instance, the period of imprisonment is increased to two years or/and the fine amount increases to Rs 2,000.