Nayagarh: A large number of two-wheelers and four-wheelers parked along National Highway-57 and State Highway-21 which pass through Nayagarh town often create traffic bottlenecks and have made commuting on this stretch a dangerous affair, locals have said.
Heavy vehicles including earthmovers and buses parked along NH-57 near Government Girls’ school here creating traffic chaos is quite common. It has been a regular scene here for last three months now.
Motorcyclists and drivers said they have to be extra careful while plying on this stretch. A little carelessness can become life threatening. “The regional transport office (RTO) and local administration are well aware of these things. Yet, no step is being taken to make the stretch free from encroachment,” they alleged.
At the same time, makeshift shop owners have laid siege on the open space along several other crucial roads in the town. These vendors can be seen spreading their businesses near divisional forest office, Khandapara road and Odagaon road.
The collector had directed the executive officer and R&B Department to identify suitable places for construction of parking zones at a road safety week meeting held August 22. The Transport Department was also directed to put up road safety signboards at strategic locations to make commuters aware of traffic rules. The police officials had also been asked to get the roads of the town free from hawkers and remove street-vendors from the streets to free the roads from encroachment.
That said, these decisions and directions are yet to see the light of the day. Town residents said the road safety meeting has been reduced to a customary affair.
When contacted, RTO Pratap Preetimaya said it had been decided in the meeting that all the departments would come together to convert the decisions into action. “But without the help of the executive officer of the municipality, tehsildar and local police, nothing can be done. I hope, necessary steps would be taken in days to come,” he added.
PNN