Flyover on NH-5 to ease traffic

CUTTACK: The busy intersection on the NH-5 at Balikuda, which links Cuttack to Banki and Barang, will have a flyover to ensure smooth flow of traffic in all directions. The technical committee under the High Court-appointed Traffic Management Committee has underlined the need of a flyover at Balikuda Chhak as part of the ongoing expansion of the NH.  The Committee, headed by Bhubaneswar- Cuttack Police Commissioner BK Sharma with members __ NHAI project director and Cuttack DCP, members of the advocates’ committee and local representatives, on Saturday made an on-the-spot assessment and felt necessity of altering NH expansion plans to accommodate ancillary facilities. The locals have been demanding connecting service roads, suitable underpasses and flyover at several locations along the Highway. The 10-km stretch till Phulnakhara square is dotted with dense habitations along both the sides and also laced with schools, colleges and educational institutions.  Due to the increasing traffic load on the Highway, it has become accident-prone with more than 10 persons losing lives in a month, locals said. Absence of facilities like underpasses and over-bridges is a major reason for the high frequency of accidents, casualties and injuries, they said. They have demanded a connecting road under the Kathjodi river bridges to link Urali and Kajipatna. The Committee noted that underpasses are existing near the Sadar Police Station and Telengapentha but they are not even suitable for crossing on foot. The underpasses need to be revamped and restructured to become full-fledged facilities for vehicular movement.  The locals have also demanded another underpass at Pratap Nagari along with a flyover as the stretch is extremely accident-prone. They have also stressed extension of the service roads on both sides of the Highway from Bamphakuda to Phulnakhara square. The Committee is seized of the requirements and decisions will be taken accordingly, sources said. With residents of ward no. 52, 53 and 54 under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation filing a petition demanding construction of underpasses and over-bridges at important crossings along the Highway, the Orissa High Court has directed authorities concerned to examine the requirements and take steps accordingly.