Bhubaneswar: VSS Nagar, one of the most densely inhabited residential areas in the capital city, is grappling with severe civic issue like dilapidated roads, obstructed drainage systems, and malfunctioning streetlights, among others.
Enveloped by Mancheswar Industrial Estate on one perimeter and the staff quarters, hospital, community halls, and other assets of the East Coast Railway on the other, VSS Nagar experiences a substantial movement of people.

However, the recent downpours, the transit of heavy vehicles from the temporary transit station adjacent to Sainik School, and construction of a road overbridge near a railway level crossing have made the situation worse for the residents.
The primary and secondary thoroughfares of the area are inundated with mud due to extensive excavation work for the road over-bridge and the concurrent sewerage construction project undertaken in the neighbourhood.
“Before the rains, alternative roads were laid near the bridge construction site, but now condition of that road is very poor. The mud extracted from excavation work has covered it to such an extent that it is difficult to identify the roads edges,” Trinath Jena, a resident said.
The location of the temporary transit station near Sainik School, which has metamorphosed into the city’s permanent dumping site at the egress of VSS Nagar now, has further compounded the difficulties faced by inhabitants.
It is not solely the trucks laden with municipal solid waste traversing through VSS Nagar that are rendering life arduous for the populace, but the nauseating stench emanating from the dumping ground is making the situation even more tough for the residents.
“Heavy vehicles loaded with garbage moved on the road further aggravating its damaged portions. It is further inconvenient since the roads are not so wide for movement of such heavy vehicles. The authorities should look into it,” Sritam Mahapatra, another resident, said.

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