Cuttack, March 23: Police are struggling to streamline the traffic flow at Ranihat junction in the city.
The acute congestion on this road has led to widespread resentment among commuters.
Absence of proper parking lots and illegal parking by vehicles on the roadside are to be blamed for this.
Commuters are demanding traffic be streamlined here, because this road acts as the connecting link among important locations, including the SCB Medical College and Hospital.
"It now takes almost 15 to 20 minutes to cover 2km from Ranihat to Mangalabag due to the congestion that has now become a regular affair," said Umesh Rout, a commuter.
Rout said there was usually a heavy flow of patients and their attendants, because many medicine shops, diagnostic centres and nursing homes were located on the stretch.
Since there is no dedicated parking lot, people tend to park vehicles by the road and ultimately end up blocking the traffic flow.
Though the traffic officials had restricted the entry of four-wheelers from the SCB side towards Ranihat, illegal parking on both sides of the road is creating problems for both the commuters and the patients.
"At times, even ambulances get stuck for several minutes at the junction," said Prakash Bhuiyan, another commuter. He said direct road connectivity between Ranihat and Mangalabag had been disrupted due to the ongoing construction of the integrated sanitation project at Machuabazar.
This has also compounded the problems for the commuters because the vehicles, mostly three and four-wheelers, coming from the Machuabazar side are being diverted via Howrah Motors. The vehicles are allowed to head for Ranihat via SCB hospital from Mangalabag traffic junction. The temporary diversion has failed to serve purpose as the commuters have to negotiate a similar congestion on the SCB road, particularly near Kathagola, due to encroachment by the parking and the street vendors.
A senior official, on the other hand, said measures had been taken to streamline vehicular traffic at the Ranihat-Mangalabag road.
Traffic constables are being deployed at two places, including the Ranihat canal road, to streamline traffic while speed breakers have also been installed near the Ranihat High School.
"We have also deployed around five constables to regulate traffic keeping in view the temporary diversion. We will review the situation and take appropriate measures," said assistant commissioner of police (traffic) P.K. Dalai.
Dalai said a drive to check illegal parking by the Ranihat canal road was carried out, and similar measures would be taken.
