Bhubaneswar's Shishu Bhawan Square faces road safety crisis due to wrong-side driving

Bhubaneswar:

The city is grappling with pressing road safety issue at the Shishu Bhawan Square, where wrong-side driving has triggered concerns, prompting the transport department to prepare to implement stringent enforcement measures against offenders.

Expressing concerns, transport secretary Usha Padhee wrote a letter to transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur, highlighting the urgent need for stricter enforcement to curb this dangerous practice.The Shishu Bhawan Square is a vital junction, serving as a nexus for several key locations, including the Capital Hospital, commercial hubs like Bapuji Nagar, Unit-I market and Raj Mahal Square. “An overbridge originating from this square connects with Ekamra Kshetra, further emphasising its significance in the city’s traffic network.

Students, cyclists, and motorcyclists frequently resort to driving on the wrong side of the road to reach schools and nearby markets.

This reckless behaviour not only endangers their lives but also poses a significant traffic hazard, contributing to the chaos on the roads,” Padhee wrote.Wary of this growing concern, she urged the deployment of enforcement staff, especially during school opening hours, to instil a sense of discipline among violators and encourage adherence to traffic rules.

“The twin city commissionerate police have initiated the process of engaging a consultant to devise remedial measures for smooth traffic management across the city. There is a need to prioritise the Shishu Bhawan Square in this comprehensive plan,” she said.Residents of Bhubaneswar have voiced their frustrations, noting that wrong-side driving is not confined to the Shishu Bhawan area alone. “Driving against the flow of traffic is a common occurrence at every Chhak. Such dangerous acts are leading to frequent accidents and traffic chaos,” said Nirod Pattanayak, a resident of Khandagiri area.