Commuting: Road Damage Wreaks Havoc on Commuters in Bhubaneswar | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Come rain, and the craters and potholes start showing up. Hidden beneath the gravel and tar, they have have found freedom as torrential rain have wreaked havoc on numerous arterial and internal roads across various localities in the city, causing immense distress and discomfort to commuters.
Craters and potholes can be found on nearly all the major thoroughfares — Sachivalaya Marg, Jaydev Vihar-Nandankanan road, Bidyut Marg, Infocity Road and even the climate-resilient smart Janpath.
The condition of the roads has made commuting an arduous and perilous ordeal for citizens, who are forced to risk life and limbs to navigate the stretches.
People have also started reporting instances of back pain and neck strain due to the constant exposure to such uneven and bumpy roads. Doctors have warned of severe impact on the health and well-being of regular commuters of such roads.
“The abysmal state of the roads can have a profound impact on an individual’s physical and mental health. Regularly commuting on such surfaces can lead to issues with the spinal cord and even slip disc problems,” cautioned Pradeep Sahoo, an orthopedic at a private hospital here.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s helpline and social media platforms are inundated with grievances and complaints pertaining to the extensive road damage. Sources said the civic body is receiving at least 30-40 calls daily on an average.
“The roads in our neighbourhood have deteriorated. I lodged a complaint last week, but no action has been initiated thus far,” lamented Pratima Mohanty, a home-maker and resident of VSS Nagar.
Commuters also complained that during rains they have to travel through pothole-filled roads while at other times, they are greeted by dust coming out of the rough surface. “Poor road maintenance is contributing to pollution as well,” Patia resident Rajni Hota said. The authorities asserted that they are actively engaged in periodically fixing potholes and that a comprehensive overlaying of the critical roads will be undertaken during the dry spell.
“We are diligently identifying and repairing the potholes on a regular basis. Our field level officers are alert and addressing the complaints raised by the residents in our helpline number,” city mayor Sulochana Das said.
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