TV
Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar declared the road in front of the judicial complex in the Capital City a ‘no-parking zone’, on Friday. This is a move aimed at alleviating congestion and ensuring smooth traffic flow in nearby areas.
Police have initiated a campaign to raise awareness among motorists by placing placards along the declared road.
Also Read: Bhubaneswar traffic decongestion: Inner ring road & elevated corridor part of Rs 7000 cr plan
“For now, we are focusing on building awareness, but actions will be taken in the future if violations persist,” the ACP-Traffic, Umakanta Pradhan expressed. This step comes as part of wider infrastructural developments, including the new judicial complex which provides parking facilities within its premises, the cop further said.
Motorists are strictly advised by the police authorities to avoid parking in non-designated areas outside these facilities to ensure compliance and ease of access for court visitors.
“Illegally parked vehicles will be toed and penalties will be imposed for violating the norms. Hence, motorists are appealed to abide by it,” the official stated.
“Twin City Commissioner of Police Suresh Dev Datta Singh had advised us to enforce the law with care and compassion. The drive started today and will continue for the next few days. But, action will be taken thereafter,” the senior cop added.
Enforcement and planning challenges
Irregular parking and unauthorised vendor encroachments under Bomikhal ROB highlight enforcement gaps. Mo Bus accidents persist due to unregulated halting patterns, despite a 2024 Bhubaneswar Development Authority survey. Delays in implementing transit corridors and Metro rail integration further strain existing infrastructure.
Infrastructure development plans
The Odisha government allocated Rs 13,000 crore for road decongestion, including a 64-km inner ring road and a 148-km outer ring road to divert heavy traffic. Key projects include elevated corridors (Jayadev Vihar to Nandankanan), three flyovers at Kalpana Chhak and Sishu Bhawan, and an underpass at AG Chowk. A parallel road from Institute of Mathematics to Ekamra Kanan aims to reduce dependence on the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack highway.
Parking management initiatives
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) auctioned 17 individual parking lots near critical zones to regulate haphazard on-street parking. Despite efforts, illegal parking during events and festivals exacerbated congestion, with inadequate enforcement. A Parking Area Management Plan (PAMP) toolkit was introduced to guide systematic parking solutions.
Must Read: Big plan for Bhubaneswar decongestion: Massive investment for subway, flyovers, ring roads
Technological and expert interventions
IIT Madras is conducting a human-factor study at Jayadev Vihar Chhak to analyse peak-hour congestion, vehicle mix, and pedestrian flow for data-driven solutions. The ‘zero accident day’ initiative promotes road safety via workshops and AI-driven traffic light optimisation. The state also plans IoT-based smart parking systems to reduce search time and emissions.
