Pedestrians, shopkeepers see red over installing permanent barricades on roads | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: The installation of permanent barricades along key roads in the city has created resentment among residents. These 5ft high barricades not only reduce space and the commuters’ mobility, but also affect the business of roadside shops and vendors. Authorities claimed the move aims to ensure pedestrians’ safety and reduce expenses on frequent temporary barricading during VIP visits to the state capital. However, residents argued that the decision has caused significant inconvenience and affected livelihoods.
“Due to the barricades, our vision gets blocked and one cannot see if any vehicle is coming from the side lanes to the main road, leading to the possibility of accidents. Besides, the barricades have shrunk the overall size of the open space, giving a cramped look to the city,” Harapriya Prusty, a resident of Sastri Nagar, said.
Engineer-in-chief and special secretary of the works department, Purna Chandra Mohapatra, said, “The govt used to spend huge sums of money on setting up temporary barricades during VIP visits to the state capital. These barricades will not only reduce the recurring cost of erecting temporary barricades but also ensure the safety of pedestrians on the footpath. Now people cannot drive on footpaths, which would help in preventing hit-and-run cases.”
Sources said the state govt has been putting up permanent iron barricades separating the main roads from the footpath on major roads, starting from Biju Patnaik International Airport to AG Square and from Raj Bhawan to the World Square.
“I was making a livelihood from the tyre repair shop on the roadside, where two-wheeler and four-wheeler riders used to check the pressure of their vehicles by parking on the road. But now, after the barricades, my shop has become inaccessible and I have no option but to shut the shop,” Narayan Sahu, a vendor in the Unit-5 area, said.
Several shop owners who have set up shops on the roadside face a similar fate as Sahu and expressed their resentment as the barricades block visibility and access.
“Due to the barricades, our vision gets blocked and one cannot see if any vehicle is coming from the side lanes to the main road, leading to the possibility of accidents. Besides, the barricades have shrunk the overall size of the open space, giving a cramped look to the city,” Harapriya Prusty, a resident of Sastri Nagar, said.
Engineer-in-chief and special secretary of the works department, Purna Chandra Mohapatra, said, “The govt used to spend huge sums of money on setting up temporary barricades during VIP visits to the state capital. These barricades will not only reduce the recurring cost of erecting temporary barricades but also ensure the safety of pedestrians on the footpath. Now people cannot drive on footpaths, which would help in preventing hit-and-run cases.”
Sources said the state govt has been putting up permanent iron barricades separating the main roads from the footpath on major roads, starting from Biju Patnaik International Airport to AG Square and from Raj Bhawan to the World Square.
“I was making a livelihood from the tyre repair shop on the roadside, where two-wheeler and four-wheeler riders used to check the pressure of their vehicles by parking on the road. But now, after the barricades, my shop has become inaccessible and I have no option but to shut the shop,” Narayan Sahu, a vendor in the Unit-5 area, said.
Several shop owners who have set up shops on the roadside face a similar fate as Sahu and expressed their resentment as the barricades block visibility and access.
