Potholes, rainwater, no lights: Cuttack-Bhubaneswar road via Nandankanan turns nightmare for commuters

A key arterial road connecting Bhubaneswar and Cuttack via Nandankanan has been lying submerged for over a week, exposing thousands of commuters to serious danger each day. Despite being a critical stretch used by office-goers, students, and tourists alike, the road remains neglected, battered, and broken.

The waterlogging, which began following recent rains, continues to persist despite the deployment of pump sets by Odisha Fire Services. Deep potholes now lurk beneath the flooded surface, making navigation treacherous, especially for two-wheelers. With Nandankanan Zoo drawing thousands of visitors daily, the threat of a major mishap looms large.

While the Commissionerate Police has placed a few token barricades near dangerous craters, these half-hearted measures fall far short of what’s required. The road has no kerbs, no functional drainage, and shockingly, no street lighting-- a deadly combination that turns the stretch into a hazard zone after dark.

Adding to the chaos, desperate commuters are now resorting to wrong-side driving to bypass the waterlogged stretch, creating confusion and increasing the risk of collisions. Residents and daily users say it’s only a matter of time before a fatal accident occurs.

“What’s stopping the authorities? This is a major lifeline between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. If this isn’t a priority, what is?” questioned an angry commuter stuck in knee-deep water for over 20 minutes.

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Echoing the same, a daily commuter dodging potholes in the dark, said, “It’s not just an inconvenience anymore, it’s a safety hazard. Are they waiting for someone to die before acting?” 

“Every day I take this route, I feel like I’m risking my life. Is this how a smart city treats its people?” questioned a frustrated IT employee.

The concerned officials couldn't be contacted to comment on the matter.