Bhubaneswar, Sept 5: Residents of Jagamara, Khandagiri and adjoining areas are facing severe traffic congestion after a major stretch of the Jagamara-Khandagiri road was closed for sewerage pipeline work.
The road from Jagamara Traffic Square to Jagamara village has reportedly remained blocked for the past several days, forcing commuters to take lengthy diversions. Residents claim that a journey of barely 100 metres is now requiring them to travel nearly 5 km through alternative routes.
The closure has affected people living in Khandagiri, Jagamara, Dharmavihar, Barabari, Mallik Complex, Panchasakha Nagar, Gandamunda, Bhaktamadhu Sudan Nagar and Pokhariput. Educational institutions and business establishments in the area are also reportedly facing difficulties.
Traffic chaos during peak hours
For the last five days, thousands of commuters have allegedly been struggling with traffic jams, particularly during the evening hours. Students are facing difficulties reaching schools and colleges on time, while office-goers are also being delayed.
The biggest concern, however, is the movement of emergency vehicles.
Residents say the road closure and congestion have made it difficult for ambulances and fire tenders to pass through the area. They fear that the absence of a clear emergency route could become dangerous in the event of a medical emergency or fire.
Narrow lanes turn into traffic bottlenecks
With the main road blocked, commuters travelling from Khandagiri towards Jagamara village are being diverted through the Barabari-side lanes before joining the 100-Foot Road.
Similarly, vehicles coming from Pokhariput towards Khandagiri are being diverted through the lanes near Jagamara Traffic Square.
However, the narrow roads are unable to handle the increased volume of vehicles, resulting in prolonged traffic jams.
The congestion is also reportedly spilling over towards the Nilakantheswar Temple-Barmunda road. Some motorists are being forced to take the Fire Station-Shiripur route to avoid the jam.
Ganesh Puja raises fresh concerns
With Ganesh Puja approaching, residents fear that the situation could become even more difficult.
Several puja mandaps are expected to be set up across the locality, attracting thousands of devotees. Locals fear that if the main road remains closed and traffic arrangements are not improved, the additional crowd and vehicle movement could lead to severe congestion.
Residents question repeated road digging
Residents have also raised questions over repeated sewerage-related road excavation in the area.
According to locals, roads in the Jagamara-Khandagiri belt have allegedly been dug up several times over the past four years for sewerage pipeline work, yet the project remains incomplete.
In 2022, residents reportedly faced prolonged disruption during sewerage pipeline work on the Jagamara-City Women's College road. Though the work was expected to be completed within two months, locals allege that the road remained dug up for around eight months. They further claim that proper restoration was not carried out immediately after the pipeline work.
Again, in December 2023, the Jagamara-Gandamunda road was reportedly excavated without prior notice, according to residents. Since then, locals claim that road excavation has repeatedly taken place at different locations every few months.
Nabakishore Behera, Local Resident,“Residents are suffering because the main road has been closed without adequate alternative arrangements. The authorities should ensure that emergency vehicles have a clear passage and that the work is completed within the stipulated time.”
Rabindra Kumar Jena, Local Resident,“Thousands of people use this road every day. Students, office-goers, patients and local businesses are all being affected. The authorities should complete the sewerage work quickly and restore the road for public use.”
Residents are not against infrastructure development or sewerage expansion, but they are questioning the manner in which the work is being executed.
They want the authorities to ensure proper traffic diversion, an emergency corridor, adequate public notice and time-bound completion of the project.
According to locals, the current disruption is expected to continue until September 25, adding to concerns ahead of the upcoming festival season.
For residents of Jagamara and Khandagiri, the immediate question is simple: When will the sewerage work end and when will their main road finally reopen?
