For the past five years, residents of Puri have been enduring an unimaginable commuting nightmare on what should be a straightforward 500-meter stretch of road. The Siddha Mahavir Road, serving as the crucial connection between Puri and Konark, has transformed into an obstacle course of potholes, garbage mounds, and stagnant water that turns a half-kilometer journey into a grueling 30-minute ordeal.
The Daily Struggle on Puri's Worst Road
Commuters navigating this treacherous stretch face multiple hazards simultaneously. The road surface is riddled with deep pits, some measuring 2 to 3 feet deep and filled with thick, deceptive sludge that hides their true depth. Drivers frequently misjudge these hazardous patches, leading to vehicles getting stuck or skidding, resulting in several minor and major accidents each week.
The situation has deteriorated further since work began on the long-delayed railway overbridge. Traffic now slows to a crawl as vehicles navigate around deep pits and muddy patches that resemble artificial ponds. The constant dumping of construction materials including loose stones and concrete onto the carriageway has added to the danger, making the route particularly treacherous from Matiapada Square to Balighat Square.
Railway Overbridge: Seven Years of Delays
The root of the problem lies in the railway overbridge project that has been mired in delays since its announcement nearly seven years ago. After completing land acquisition, the initial contractor failed to commence work on time, forcing authorities to transfer the project to another agency.
Although the original completion deadline was set for April 2025, the structure remains far from finished. Both officials and residents now estimate that the project may require at least another two years for completion, as the contractor allegedly works only intermittently, further slowing progress.
The proposed overbridge design includes a 24-meter wide structure with proper drainage systems and service roads. The complete project, including its approaches, will form nearly 900 meters of connected roadway. The financial aspect has also seen revisions, with the Ministry of Road Transport initially estimating the cost at Rs 130.36 crore for construction and land acquisition, of which approximately Rs 50 crore was allocated specifically for the bridge. This expenditure was later revised to Rs 55.74 crore.
Commuters Bear the Brunt of Infrastructure Failure
The route handles an astonishing over one lakh commuters daily, all of whom must endure the consequences of the delayed infrastructure project. The situation becomes particularly chaotic when the level crossing barrier descends, which residents report happens nearly five times every hour as more than sixty trains pass through this point daily.
During these frequent barrier closures, long queues of vehicles form on both sides, forcing hundreds of commuters to stand in ankle-deep slush. Local resident Pritish Ranjan Sahoo described the road conditions as extremely dangerous, with numerous deep pits creating constant hazards for all types of vehicles.
The unfinished overbridge has also caused significant waterlogging in the area, turning the entire stretch into a mud-filled track that becomes increasingly difficult to navigate, especially during monsoon seasons.
Accountability and Temporary Solutions
When questioned about the terrible road conditions, Puri municipal executive officer Abhimanyu Behera clarified that although the stretch falls within municipal limits, the responsibility for its construction rests entirely with the National Highway Authority of India. The municipality can only repair the adjoining service roads, not the main carriageway where the majority of problems exist.
Frustrated residents have demanded that authorities at least make the stretch temporarily motorable until the bridge project is completed. They warn that unless immediate temporary repairs and proper site management are implemented urgently, accidents will continue to occur regularly, and commuters will remain trapped in daily traffic snarls under dangerous conditions.
The collective plea from Puri's residents is clear: they need immediate relief from this five-year-long transportation crisis that has turned their daily commute into what many describe as the worst part of their day.
