CUTTACK: Considered one of the busiest thoroughfares and the largest commercial hub of Cuttack, Buxi Bazaar is witness to traffic snarls throughout the day. With no scope for road expansion and civic issues already dogging the area, the problems of commuters, it seems, will remain unsolved for all times to come. One of the major problems is the lack of a parking space for two-wheelers which affects smooth flow of traffic. People usually park their vehicles on both sides of the road. Though there is a parking lot for four-wheelers near the Buxi Bazaar petrol pump, it makes little difference in easing the pressure on the road. Sources said despite demarcations made on both sides of the road with white paint for people to park their vehicles, the divide is hardly visible. Even the traffic signal installed in the area has remained nonfunctional for years. To make matters worse, cattle encroach upon a large portion of the road near the circular crossing. During rush hours, passersby say the traffic cones introduced by traffic authorities as road dividers also create problems in commuting. Besides, construction materials like sand and stone chips are often found dumped on either sides of the road leading to mishaps many a time.Buxi Bazaar acts as a connecting link for Choudhary Bazaar, Tinikonia Bagicha, Mangalabaag, College Square, Mission Road, Kanika Chhak and Cantonment Road. The area houses a nursing home, veterinary hospital, hundreds of large and small shops, hotels, a fruit market and eateries. It is also the most commonly used road by students of Stewart, New Stewart, St Joseph’s and Cambridge and Buckley Primary schools and three other major colleges of the city. “During the peak hours, one has to wait near the circular crossing because of traffic snarls. At times when traffic constables are not present, there is absolute chaos,” says Nirupam Patnaik, a businessman.Another localite S N Behera alleged that despite deployment of traffic constables, no tangible measures are being taken to streamline traffic on the road. “Also, there are no speed-breakers despite schools located there,” said Behera.Local corporator Rita Mohanty said plans have been made to repair the Buxi Bazaar soon by the PWD. “There was a proposal for repairing all the roads through the PWD and while the department has finished working upon the Stadium road, it will soon begin work in Buxi Bazaar,” Mohanty said, adding that the civic body has assured to repair the electronic traffic signals at the earliest and steps are being taken at regular intervals to streamline traffic.Mohanty further informed that local vendors had moved the civic authorities to provide them vending zones in the CDA market but decision over the demand is not yet been taken.
Comments
0 comment