The Vice President of India, C.P. Radhakrishnan, is set to visit Odisha tomorrow, January 23, to commemorate Parakram Divas, marking the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The visit, centred around Cuttack’s Netaji Birthplace Museum, will include a museum tour, participation in commemorative events, and the inauguration of a new District Cultural Building. However, the high-profile trip is expected to cause traffic snarls in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, prompting authorities to issue advisories and implement diversions.
According to the schedule, the Vice President will arrive at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 8:50 AM via a special Indian Air Force flight from New Delhi. He will then proceed by road to Cuttack, arriving at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birthplace Museum in Odia Bazaar by 9:35 AM. The events in Cuttack will highlight Netaji’s enduring legacy, with the Vice President unveiling the newly constructed cultural facility nearby to promote Odisha’s rich heritage.
Following the morning programs, Radhakrishnan will return to Bhubaneswar for lunch at Lok Bhawan (Raj Bhavan). His departure is slated for around 2:00 PM from Bhubaneswar airport, en route to Kolkata.
In anticipation of the visit, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate has released a traffic advisory warning of congestion along key routes from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM and again from 12:00 Noon to 2:15 PM.
The affected path includes major junctions such as Airport Square, Hospital Square, AG Square, Lok Bhawan Square, Power House Square, 120 Battalion Square, Sastri Nagar Square, Behera Sahi Square, Jayadev Vihar Square, Nayapalli Underpass, Jayadev Vihar Flyover, Satsang Vihar, VSS Nagar, Palasuni Square, Hi-Tech Square, NH-16 up to Sikharpur Square, Kaliabuda VUP, Jobra Chhak, Matamath Chhak, Old Law University Hostel Chhak, Grinar Hotel Chhak, Madhusudan Statue Chhak, OPA Chhak, Samaj Office, Buxibazar Chhak, Barapatahra Chhak, Tinikonia Bagicha Chhak, and Jail Road Chhak.
To manage the flow, temporary diversions will be enforced. Heavy vehicles, tractors, and AMA buses are barred from the Cuttack Mahanadi Ring Road—from Sikharpur Chhak to Chahata Chhak and all connecting lanes—starting at 7:00 AM until the event concludes. Additionally, heavy vehicles on NH-16 will be rerouted during the Vice President’s movements.
Commissioner of Police Dr. Suresh Dev Datta Singh urged commuters to avoid the specified routes, opt for alternatives, plan ahead with extra time, and cooperate with on-ground personnel. “We seek the public’s support to ensure the event’s success while maintaining smooth traffic in the city,” the advisory stated.
This visit underscores Odisha’s historical ties to Netaji, whose birthplace in Cuttack remains a symbol of India’s independence struggle. Local residents and officials are gearing up for a dignified observance, balancing reverence with practical logistics.
