In preparation for the Durga Puja festivities, the Commissionerate Police has announced stringent traffic restrictions in Bhubaneswar.
These measures will be in effect from September 28 to October 2, aimed at ensuring smooth crowd management and public safety during the celebrations. The restrictions primarily target heavy vehicles on major city roads and will apply daily from 2 PM to 2 AM.
According to the official notification, no heavy vehicles will be allowed on several key routes during the specified hours. This includes:
- From Rasulgarh Square to Lingipur Square and connecting side roads (including Bamikhal, Laxmisagar, Kalpana, Ravi Talkies, and Samantarapur Square areas).
- From Vani Vihar Square to Sishu Bhawan Square and adjacent roads (including Rupali, Satya Nagar, Ram Mandir, Master Canteen, and Rajmahal Square areas).
- From Acharya Vihar Square to Kalinga Hospital Square and nearby roads (including the Sainik School Square area).
- From Acharya Vihar Square to New Airport Square and connecting paths (including Nico Park, Patel Marg, Housing Board, Rabindra Mandap, and A.G. Square areas).
- From Jaydev Vihar Square to Nandankanan Square and side roads (including Xavier, Kalinga Hospital, Chamana, and Patia Square areas).
- From Jaydev Vihar Square to Raj Bhavan Square and adjacent areas (including Behera Sahi and Shastri Nagar Square).
- From CRP Square to Power House Square and connecting roads (including Stewart School and Unit-8 DAV School areas).
- From Fire Training School Square to Sishu Bhawan Square and nearby paths (including Paiknagar, Siripur Square, and Ganganagar Square).
- From Khandagiri Square to Pokhariput Square and side roads (including Jagamara and Gandamunda Square areas).
Additionally, heavy vehicles travelling on National Highway-16 from Baramunda to Palasuni will be barred from entering the city via service roads. Vehicles coming from Khordha towards Cuttack will be diverted at Pitapalli Square via the left road through Chandaka-Baranga to Balikuda, where they can rejoin NH-16. Similarly, those from Cuttack to Khordha will follow the reverse route via Balikuda to Pitapalli. If crowd density demands, heavy vehicles may be further restricted at Pitapalli Square and Birupa Bridge.
Special arrangements have been made for the Nayapalli Ravana Podi event. All vehicles (except heavy ones) coming from Cuttack on NH-16 will be diverted at Jaydev Vihar to the left service road via Behera Sahi, Shastri Nagar, Power House, and Unit-8 DAV School Square towards CRP/Fire Station Square. In the reverse direction, vehicles from CRP Square will proceed via Ekamra Kanan Road and Biju Pattnaik College Road to Jaydev Vihar.
Buses travelling through or to Bhubaneswar during these dates must adhere to alternative routes:
- Buses from Puri to Baramunda will go via Lingipur Square, Pandara Square, Kesura Square, and Hi-Tech Square to reach Baramunda Bus Stand.
- Buses from Baramunda to Puri will follow the same route in reverse.
- No buses will be allowed into the city centre.
- Buses from Puri to Cuttack will proceed via Lingipur Square, bypass road, and Hi-Tech Square to NH-16.
- Buses from Cuttack to Puri will follow the reverse path.
- No buses from Master Canteen Bus Stand (government or private) will head towards Vani Vihar or Ravi Talkies Square; they must use unrestricted times via Ram Mandir Square, Housing Board Square, and Acharya Vihar.
- Buses from Lingaraj Temple Garage will not go towards Kalpana or Sishu Bhawan Square; they must route via Garage Square and Samantarapur to Lingipur.
These restrictions are designed to facilitate safe and hassle-free movement for devotees and the public. Violators will face fines under Section 96 of the Odisha Urban Police Act, 2003. Emergency vehicles, including police, fire brigade, excise, ambulances, and other essential services, are exempt.
The Commissionerate Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, extends warm wishes for a safe and joyful Dussehra to all citizens and urges everyone to responsibly follow traffic and safety guidelines.
