CUTTACK: Illegal bus stoppages along one of Cuttack’s busiest roads are causing frequent traffic jams and posing serious safety risks to commuters.
Despite repeated warnings from the police, the practice continues unabated along the stretch from Khannagar Malachandia chowk to Badambadi Square. According to reports, more than 500 private buses ply daily from the Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal (CNBT) to various parts of the state via Malachandia chowk, Badambadi Square and Madhupatna.
These buses routinely make illegal stops at multiple points along the busy stretch to pick up passengers, leading to traffic congestion and increasing the risk of accidents. On the evening of December 16, a private bus en route to Keonjhar stopped near Jhanjir Mangala Gada to board passengers. As the bus suddenly resumed movement, it ran over a youth, killing him on the spot.
Following the incident, angry locals vandalised the bus and demanded stringent action against such abrupt and unauthorised stoppages, particularly on the Khannagar Malachandia chowk–Badambadi Square stretch. The next day, Badambadi police maintained strict surveillance on bus movement in the area, driving away buses attempting to stop, and imposing fines on several violators.
However, the situation reverted to normal the following day due to the absence of sustained enforcement. Residents and commuters have expressed strong resentment over the illegal stoppages, citing severe inconvenience and safety concerns. “Like auto-rickshaws, private buses stop and pick up passengers wherever they want, creating serious hazards for us,” said a local resident.
Sources said the Cuttack traffic police had proposed introducing free battery-operated vehicles to ferry passengers from this stretch to the CNBT, in a bid to curb illegal stoppages. The proposal was discussed at a district road safety committee meeting but has remained confined to paper.
“We have also requested the CNBT manager to provide a vehicle to transport passengers waiting along the road to the bus terminal, which would be a permanent solution. However, the request was declined due to a lack of funds. It is not feasible to deploy traffic police every 100 metre along the stretch,” said a senior traffic police officer.