Bhubaneswar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has requested the state govt’s intervention to close a hazardous median opening near Balikuda on National Highway-16, connecting Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, citing frequent fatal accidents at the location. The appeal comes amid strong opposition from the local residents who resisted NHAI’s previous attempts to seal the opening.

The NHAI sought the govt’s support to implement this safety measure as the issue between highway officials and the Balikuda community escalates.
In an official communication to the state govt, NHAI addressed concerns raised by the Balikuda Village Development Committee, which demanded the construction of an underpass instead of closing the median.
Local residents argue that the opening is essential for their daily access to vital community facilities, including an upper primary school, a temple and a crematorium, all located on the opposite side of the highway.
“The safety of highway users is our primary concern. We understand the villagers’ concerns, but we cannot compromise on road safety standards on this high-speed corridor,” regional officer of NHAI Odisha, Veerendra Singh, said.
NHAI officials said that an existing vehicle underpass, located just 400m from the median opening, provides a safe alternative for crossing the highway. They maintained that this facility adequately serves the locals’ needs while ensuring road safety protocols are met.
Anil Beura of Balikuda said that they submitted their representation to the govt as well as NHAI in hopes of a second underpass. “The existing underpass is located too far. We demand another underpass at a convenient location,” he said.
The NH-16 stretch between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack is known for high-speed traffic, making unauthorized crossings particularly dangerous. There are several such median openings on the highway stretch between the two cities which caused frequent accidents in the past.
Road safety expert Syed Maqbool Ali said that the state govt officials should mediate between NHAI and local stakeholders to find a resolution. “The outcome of this could set an example for handling similar situations across the state’s highway network,” Ali said.
Ali, a former member of the National Road Safety Council, supporting NHAI’s stance, emphasized that uncontrolled median openings on high-speed corridors pose significant risks to both motorists and pedestrians. “These median openings should be closed immediately,” he added.