As the southwest monsoon swept into Odisha, touching the state capital and more than 20 districts, residents of Bhubaneswar braced for relief from the scorching heat—only to face a fresh ordeal.
While rainfall remains light for now, weather models warn of heavy downpours and a low-pressure system forming over the Bay of Bengal from June 24. Yet, across the city, roads lie scarred with unfinished excavations for drains, water pipelines, and underground cables, turning everyday commutes into a risky gamble.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had set firm deadlines—first June 1, then extended to June 20—for all departments to complete digging, backfilling, and road restoration before the monsoon. Despite multiple directives, corporation meetings where proposals were passed, and public outcry, the work remains incomplete. “Whoever gets a chance is digging wherever they want,” complain locals, highlighting a glaring lack of coordination between BMC and other agencies.
Chaos on the Streets
Walk through major stretches of the city and the scene is the same: gaping trenches partially covered with loose soil, exposed pipes, and haphazard concrete patching over once-smooth bitumen roads. Drainage projects, water supply lines, and power cable installations have left roads uneven and dangerous. With monsoon rains already making surfaces slippery, these open pits pose a serious threat of accidents, especially for two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. Waterlogging is inevitable in low-lying areas where drains remain incomplete or blocked.
Residents accuse contractors and departmental engineers of negligence and “high-handedness.” Even main arterial roads see heavy traffic snarls as vehicles navigate around construction debris. “We change the patch when the department changes,” quipped one frustrated commuter, pointing to the poor quality of patchwork that fails to last.
Repeated Warnings, Zero Action
BMC officials have repeatedly instructed allied departments—including WATCO and power utilities—not to start new digging in vulnerable areas and to finish ongoing work immediately. Yet enforcement appears weak. Illegal excavations without proper permission continue unchecked. Proposals discussed and passed in monthly corporation meetings have gathered dust instead of translating into on-ground action.
A senior BMC drain engineer, Priyabrata Behera, assured that all pending work would be completed before the deadline. However, with just days remaining and visible evidence to the contrary, public trust is running low. Citizens demand immediate intervention to prevent a full-blown monsoon crisis.
The Human Cost
Daily wage earners, office-goers, schoolchildren, and emergency vehicles are bearing the brunt. Potholes filled with rainwater hide deep craters, while incomplete drains fail to carry stormwater, worsening flooding in low-lying pockets. The situation echoes past years when similar lapses led to chaos, stranded residents, and preventable accidents.
As the monsoon strengthens, the call grows louder for BMC to enforce accountability, improve inter-departmental coordination, and prioritise public safety over bureaucratic delays.
For now, Bhubaneswar’s roads stand as a stark reminder that good intentions and passed resolutions are not enough—timely execution is what matters when the skies open up.
