Traffic nightmare on Sachivalaya Marg due to slow-paced road repair
Bhubaneswar: Long queues of vehicles, stuck during peak hours, negotiating the busy Sachivalaya Marg — particularly the stretch between Sainik School and Acharya Vihar Square — has become a nightmare for commuters for the last one month — thanks to the slow-paced road repair work.
One side of the road remains closed for the ongoing restoration, forcing hundreds of vehicles, including ambulances and hospital-bound commuters, to squeeze through a narrow passage. The dug-up surface, barricades and uneven diversions only add to the chaos.
Public works department (PWD) is executing a new form of road strengthening on this crucial corridor, laying a thick concrete layer typically used in highway-grade construction instead of using bitumen mix to ensure longevity. Officials said the technique ensures better durability and can withstand heavy traffic for years.
“This is a first-of-its-kind upgrade on any city road. The concrete layer will significantly improve the road’s lifespan and reduce recurring repairs. However, we do acknowledge the inconvenience and are trying to speed up the remaining work,” a senior PWD engineer, overseeing the project, told TOI.
Commuters said the prolonged closure was frustrating. “Every evening, traffic moves inch by inch near Acharya Vihar. What used to take five minutes now takes 20 to 25 minutes. Ambulances get stuck in the mess; that’s the most worrying part,” said Rajesh Das, a commuter from Nayapalli.
Transport and road safety experts welcomed the adoption of a stronger construction method but warned that delays on such a sensitive corridor can have serious implications. “Sachivalaya Marg connects several major hospitals, educational institutions, and govt offices,” said road safety expert Syed Maqbool Ali.
He added this is effectively a health corridor with large ambulance movement. “Introducing durable concrete pavement is a good step, but the execution timeline should be tighter. Authorities should deploy additional manpower to finish the work at the earliest,” Ali suggested.
Residents of nearby Laxmi Vihar, VSS Nagar, Vani Vihar, Jayadev Vihar and Acharya Vihar echoed the concern. “Morning traffic is the worst. Parents going to schools and employees rushing to offices are stuck daily,” said Sailendra Mishra, a resident of Laxmi Vihar.
Officials said the department instructed the contractor to complete the work on priority and is exploring whether part of the newly laid section can be opened earlier to ease congestion. “We expect substantial progress in the next 10 to 12 days, after which traffic movement will improve,” an official said.
One side of the road remains closed for the ongoing restoration, forcing hundreds of vehicles, including ambulances and hospital-bound commuters, to squeeze through a narrow passage. The dug-up surface, barricades and uneven diversions only add to the chaos.
Public works department (PWD) is executing a new form of road strengthening on this crucial corridor, laying a thick concrete layer typically used in highway-grade construction instead of using bitumen mix to ensure longevity. Officials said the technique ensures better durability and can withstand heavy traffic for years.
“This is a first-of-its-kind upgrade on any city road. The concrete layer will significantly improve the road’s lifespan and reduce recurring repairs. However, we do acknowledge the inconvenience and are trying to speed up the remaining work,” a senior PWD engineer, overseeing the project, told TOI.
Commuters said the prolonged closure was frustrating. “Every evening, traffic moves inch by inch near Acharya Vihar. What used to take five minutes now takes 20 to 25 minutes. Ambulances get stuck in the mess; that’s the most worrying part,” said Rajesh Das, a commuter from Nayapalli.
Transport and road safety experts welcomed the adoption of a stronger construction method but warned that delays on such a sensitive corridor can have serious implications. “Sachivalaya Marg connects several major hospitals, educational institutions, and govt offices,” said road safety expert Syed Maqbool Ali.
He added this is effectively a health corridor with large ambulance movement. “Introducing durable concrete pavement is a good step, but the execution timeline should be tighter. Authorities should deploy additional manpower to finish the work at the earliest,” Ali suggested.
Residents of nearby Laxmi Vihar, VSS Nagar, Vani Vihar, Jayadev Vihar and Acharya Vihar echoed the concern. “Morning traffic is the worst. Parents going to schools and employees rushing to offices are stuck daily,” said Sailendra Mishra, a resident of Laxmi Vihar.
Officials said the department instructed the contractor to complete the work on priority and is exploring whether part of the newly laid section can be opened earlier to ease congestion. “We expect substantial progress in the next 10 to 12 days, after which traffic movement will improve,” an official said.
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