Jeypore: Traffic management in this town of Koraput district has been badly hit thanks to rash driving and haphazard parking of vehicles, according to a report.
Known as the commercial hub for Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts, Jeypore has become congested and prone to accidents. This is also the case with the NH-26 that passes through the town.
“Traffic management in Jeypore is in a complete mess. Youths drive motorcycles at high speed and park bikes at will. Most parts of all major roads are used for illegal parking,” said the President of the Jeypore Citizen Committee, N.N. Nayak.
“We have apprised the officials concerned of this problem on several occassions, but no action has been taken,” Nayak added.
Surabhi Mohapatra, a local, said that travelling on the main thoroughfare of the town has never been free of risk with the increasing number of speed bikes. Bikers are creating havoc on the roads and for the ladies it is very difficult to cross roads, she added.
The worst-hit stretches are the roads between Welcome Junction and Gandhi Chowk via Daily Market and the road from Gandhi Chowk to Christian Peta which have been encroached upon by motor garages. Traffic is also hit between Dhoba Sahi Chhaka, Raja Palace area and Congress Bhawan Road.
Sources said that roads connecting major offices and educational institutes see severe traffic jam in the morning and evening due to lack of parking lot and poor traffic management.
Although the cops regularly check for helmets, there is no system in place to control speeding bikers. CCTVs have been installed at main junctions, but so far no biker breaking rules have been traced. The Jeypore police had launched two patrol bikes to keep tab on the troublemakers, but after a few months only one was seen on the roads.
Admitting the traffic problem Jeypore Town IIC Baleswar Gidhi said, “With the help of the administration a blueprint has been prepared to streamline traffic. Many spots have been identified as parking spaces. The police are on alert and soon the situation will be under control.”
PNN
