No End to Traffic Snarls on Berhampur city Streets

Commuters are facing harrowing time in Berhampur with traffic management worsening day by day. The automated traffic signals installed at three major squares of the city to streamline traffic flow, do not function properly.

Even as the local administration had decided to take strict measures to check traffic problems caused by unauthorised vending zones in different areas of the city, this has been of little help.

In areas like Tata Bench Square, Kamapalli Square, Subbarao Square and First Gate Square, traffic jam is a frequent problem faced by commoners. In fact, the automated traffic signal at Tata Bench Square has been lying defunct from 2010 and currently, vehicular traffic is being managed by two traffic cops and three Home Guards, shift wise.

A few years back, roads in the area were broadened by removing encroachments but that did not solve the problem. The automated traffic signal at Subbarao Square also does not function.

Sources said unplanned stoppages of passenger buses as well as buses of educational institutions are a major hindrance to traffic management. Such is the situation that traffic cops are unable to streamline traffic from Zanana Hospital area towards Komapalli and Giri Road. Besides, with vehicle owners choosing to park on the road, squeezing the space in the already narrow lanes, the city witnesses bottlenecks in almost every road. Locals said irresponsible driving and lack of traffic sense among the drivers have also aggravated the situation. “Even if you abide by traffic rules, you cannot assume other vehicles to follow the same these days. They lack riding sense,” rued a Central Government employee, Ratnakar Sabat.

Sources said traffic management with the existing manpower is a Herculean task. While the number of vehicles in the city has increased manifold, there are not enough traffic personnel to manage the city traffic. “We are trying to ensure smooth flow of traffic at peak hours. However, people are also expected to drive responsibly, which is lacking,” said Suresh Kumar Kayara, Berhampur traffic station in-charge.