The arrival of the festive season, spearheaded by Durga Puja, has brought vehicular movement in the capital city of Bhubaneswar to a grinding halt. With major roads heavily congested, residents are finding themselves suffocated in massive traffic jams that stretch for miles.
Long, unending queues of vehicles have become a common sight, particularly on the routes from Jayadev Vihar to Kataka and Kalpana Square to Kataka. The severe gridlock means that commuters are now taking two to three hours just to cover distances of a few kilometers.
The situation is especially dire near the city’s prominent puja pandals, including Jharpada, Rasulgarh, Saheed Nagar, and Nayapalli, which are witnessing overwhelming crowds. Commuters and local residents point out that the massive influx of pandal-hoppers and shoppers is only half the problem. The traffic management system has completely collapsed due to rampant illegal parking and wrong-way driving near these pandals. Vehicles parked haphazardly along the streets have significantly narrowed the motorable roads, severely restricting both vehicular flow and pedestrian movement.
As evening descends, the traffic woes intensify, plunging the city into deeper chaos. In response, the police and civic administration have rolled out several measures, including issuing special traffic advisories, mapping alternative routes, designating specific parking spots, and stepping up CCTV surveillance. Despite these efforts, on-ground traffic personnel are sweating it out, struggling to bring the overwhelming crowds and rogue drivers under control.
Frustrated commuters have urged the administration to strictly crack down on illegal parking and wrong-way driving near the pandals. With the festive rush expected to peak in the coming days, authorities are advising citizens to rely on alternative routes and strictly use designated parking areas to ensure a smooth and joyous Puja celebration for everyone.
