TV
Rising incidents of frequent traffic congestion and blocking of the road for essential services like ambulances appear to be on the rise along a major stretch in Odisha's Dhenkanal amid alleged negligence of the local administration.
The main road connecting Mahavir Bazaar to the district medical hospital is reportedly often overcrowded due to heavy traffic jams. The problem turns critical when ambulances and fire trucks get trapped for hours due to the blockage.
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Locals alleged that lack of proper planning and a casual attitude of the district administration have led to the current situation.
“People from across Dhenkanal district visit the hospital and several settlements have also come up along the stretch making it very congested. The administration knows this issue but it is not taking any steps to resolve it,” claimed a resident, Sishir Sathpathy.
Notably, efforts to widen the road began six years ago but there has been little progress. A decision for road expansion was taken in 2018, with 2022 being fixed as the target year of completion, but issues with land acquisition have allegedly, almost, stalled the project.
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Meanwhile, Dhenkanal MLA and Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister, Krushna Chandra Patra assured that the problem will be resolved soon. “A proposal for road widening was accepted recently and discussions are on to carry out the project with minimum hindrance to medical services,” stated Patra.
