Bhubaneswar chokes under traffic congestion

Traffic congestion has emerged as a major source of daily distress in Bhubaneswar, severely disrupting normal life in the capital city. During morning hours, roads are choked with office-goers, school and college students, while evenings witness near-complete gridlock as commuters struggle to return home.

At several key intersections, residents are forced to endure long hours on the road, with no certainty about reaching their destinations on time. The situation is so grim that even ambulances find it difficult to navigate through clogged streets, putting patients’ lives at serious risk.

The Jayadev Vihar-Patia main road has become a glaring example of the city’s traffic woes, where endless queues of vehicles are a daily sight. As congestion builds up, pedestrians too are left harassed and helpless. This chaos is not an isolated incident but a routine ordeal faced by residents day after day.

"I used to live in the Chandrasekharpur area, but I moved away four years ago due to heavy traffic. Even taking a patient to the hospital could take an hour in that area," said a resident in Bhubaneswar.

"People are facing numerous problems due to illegal parking, and the traffic police are not performing their duties effectively," said another resident in Bhubaneswar.

From Palasuni Square to Jayadev Vihar and Nayapalli, and from Infocity Road, Master Canteen, Cuttack Road, and Janpath to Vani Vihar square, Sachivalaya Marg and CRP Square, commuters across Bhubaneswar are grappling with acute traffic congestion. Buses, cars, and two-wheelers often remain stranded for half an hour to several hours, and even minor accidents can bring traffic to a complete standstill.

Experts warn that the situation could worsen further as Bhubaneswar undergoes rapid expansion. Although plans for dedicated ambulance corridors were announced earlier, they have yet to be implemented. Road safety experts also point out that while roads are being widened, there is inadequate planning for bus bays, separate emergency lane,s and strict enforcement of lane discipline.

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Illegal parking has emerged as another major contributor to congestion. With a growing population and a sharp rise in the number of vehicles, infrastructure development has failed to keep pace. The problem becomes even more unmanageable during festivals, fairs, and extended holidays, exposing serious gaps in traffic management.

"If the road is narrow, it can lead to traffic congestion. Unfortunately, these issues often go unnoticed. To address this, additional and wider lanes, bus bays, and designated parking areas should be constructed," said road safety expert Maqbool Ali.

As daily life continues to be paralysed by traffic chaos, there is an increasing demand from citizens for the government, administration, and traffic police to act urgently and implement effective measures to ease congestion and restore mobility in the capital city.