Joda: People living in villages along Joda-Bamebari road in Keonjhar district are sore over routine traffic jam caused by thousands of mineral-laden trucks. Thousands of such trucks, dumpers, trailers, buses, vans, auto-rickshaws and bikes were stranded for hours Wednesday between Joda Laupalace and Kamarajoda.
Reports said, for the last two months, repair of this road is continuing. Several commuters, who were stuck in the traffic jam for hours Wednesday expressed their displeasure before media.
They pointed out that unpleasant situations spring up at different places due to stranded vehicles.
Some passengers like Mahesh Laguri, Sanjay Patra, Janam Singh and Chinta Gopa alleged that the state government was earning crores of rupees from the mining sector, but the condition of roads is in bad shape leading to suffering of people.
As reconstruction work on the road is at a tardy pace, potholes, and craters cause accidents on the route. Traffic jams also cause a lot of inconvenience for patients going to hospitals on the route.
Soumya Ranjan Jena, who was on way from Joda to Keonjhar was stuck for five hours Wednesday. His work got delayed. He said heavy vehicles were stranded on the road in three to four queues, leaving little space for traffic.
Many passenger buses, which were supposed to reach Joda bus stand in the wee hours, reached at 10 am.
Others pointed out that traffic jams have become routine on this route, giving nightmares to locals and commuters. They have long been demanding an effective means to ward off traffic congestion on roads, but to no avail.
It may be noted that in the past, the Collector, Champua sub-collector, IICs of Joda, Bamebari, Rugudi, Bileipada and Barbil had held talks with Joda deputy director of mines for streamlining the mineral transportation on various routes.
PNN