A motorcyclist turns dangerously at Badambadi crossing. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 6: Violation of traffic rules by vehicles at the busy Badambadi crossing has been rampant, making life difficult for commuters.

Being one of the major converging points for traffic, no measures have been taken so far by the city cops to strictly enforce traffic rules here.

“Crossing the zebra line or ignoring the red light is a common feature at the Badambadi traffic signal. Though around three traffic constables have been deployed, no action is being taken against violators,” said Sudhir Patra, 55, a commuter.

Patra said that though a traffic awareness campaign was on during road safety week, it seems such initiatives have failed to elicit positive responses from motorists in the city.

Traffic officials, on the other hand, said over 150 violators were being fined each day for not wearing helmets, three persons riding on one bike and using mobile phones while driving.

Similarly, around 15 violators are being fined for ignoring the traffic signal and other violations in the city.

“We have already launched a crackdown on violators at various crossings in the city. Apart from this, awareness is also being created to follow traffic rules,” said a senior traffic official.

Besides signal violation, driving on the wrong side of the Badambadi road has become another area of concern, especially for pedestrians.

Sources said at least three minor accidents occured every day because of vehicles running on the wrong side of the road here. Local residents said that as a number of cut-points had been closed, commuters are forced to drive on the wrong side to travel from one side to the other.

“For streamlining traffic movement, a number of unwanted cut points were closed by the traffic officials who have now failed to take action against those driving in the wrong lane,” said Pradeep Dash, 29, a local resident.

Dash said that earlier there were around 19 cut-points on the 2-km stretch from Badambadi to Madhupatna Square and subsequently, most of the cut points were closed.

The Telegraph had, in a report published on September 18, 2011, pointed out that such cut points had become causes for accidents because home guards were not being deployed.

Subsequently, two more cut points were closed and at present there are four cut points to allow commuters to move from one side of the road to the other.