By Post News Network

Copyright orissapost

As Bhubaneswar transforms into a vibrant spectacle of colourful lights, arches, and tableaux for Durga Puja 2025, the City is grappling with familiar challenges of choked roads and chaotic parking. With over 172 puja pandals expected to attract record-breaking crowds, particularly at hotspots like Rasulgarh, Nayapalli, Saheed Nagar, Baramunda, Bomikhal, and Jharpada, the festive spirit is being overshadowed by severe traffic congestion and strained public infrastructure. Orissa POST correspondent Arindam Ganguly brings a 360-degree view of the status of public infrastructure, and preparations by the City and police administrations for the upcoming festival…..

As the festive fervour builds up, the Temple City once again finds itself at the crossroads of celebration and congestion. Despite planning, holding meetings, issuing traffic advisories, and ensuring multi-agency coordination, denizens remain sceptical about a hassle-free Durga Puja this year. For many, the experience of navigating pandal zones during peak puja evenings is as daunting as it is dazzling.

For many locals, travelling on City roads during puja evenings feels more like navigating a maze than enjoying a celebration. “The rush is so severe that it took me nearly an hour to reach Satsang Vihar from Saheed Nagar in my car. Every year, we face the same choked roads during Durga Puja as we get stuck for long hours in the traffic,” says Ramesh Jena, a resident. “There is no space to park the vehicles. Two-wheelers can be parked in smaller spaces, but it is difficult to park a car,” says Vikrant Swain, a visitor complaining about the lack of parking space near pandals. Urban planners highlight how strained public infrastructure and a lack of proper planning contribute to festive rush and traffic chaos. Urban planner Piyush Ranjan Rout, a vocal observer of Bhubaneswar’s civic landscape, said, “Traffic problems during Durga Puja stem from just seven to 10 pandal locations.

These pandals are strategically located in ways that choke arterial roads. What’s worse, a three-day festival is unofficially stretched over a full week, causing artificial congestion.” He adds that crowd-pullers like Meena Bazaars, Ram Leelas, and musical evenings, all held in close proximity, only intensify the chaos. Rout says activities like Meena Bazaar, Ravana Podi, and cultural shows should be held at least 1.5 km away from main pandals. Limiting each pandal to one major activity, not all three, will be helpful, he opines. He also recommends strict enforcement of traffic rules; restriction on VIP movements; promotion of cycling, walking and public transport use; deployment of traffic personnel specifically for emergency corridors; restricting celebrations to three peak days— Ashtami, Navami and Dashami— and above all ensuring completion of immersion rituals before 7am. “Durga Puja needs discipline, not disarray,” he asserts. Subrat Nanda, a road safety expert, highlights several issues related to road safety and traffic management. He points out that there is very little coordination among various government departments, especially during road construction or expansion projects. Agencies such as Public Works, Transport, BMC, and Police often work in isolation, leading to confusion and inefficiency. He also criticises the lack of a proper car parking system in Bhubaneswar, noting that, unlike other states, vehicles are often parked haphazardly.

Many car owners do not have garages and park their vehicles on the roadside, further worsening traffic congestion. “The government should ban the use of four-wheelers in congested areas during festivities and instead encourage the use of public transport,” Nanda suggests. Stressing the importance of traffic awareness and education, he says many accidents occur due to a lack of traffic sense and failure to follow traffic rules.

Meanwhile, several puja committees claim that they have well-thought-out strategies in place to ensure less rush near pandals. Jharpada Durga Puja Committee secretary Suresh Chandra Jena says, “This year, we’re introducing seven designated entry points near the Mandap to streamline crowd movement. Over 500 security personnel, including 50 trained female and male guards, will be deployed.” The committee has also ensured CCTV surveillance across major choke points, an information centre equipped with first aid, ORS kits, and fire extinguishers. Special security teams for senior citizens and women, and four designated parking zones with close vehicle monitoring are also in place. “This year, we have changed the location of the puja pandal, which, hopefully, will ease the traffic,” Jena adds.

Similarly, Rasulgarh Durga Puja Committee secretary Sanjay Baliarsingh says, “We have arranged a free parking area near the pandal for visitors. We have deployed around 100 male and female security personnel, while our committee members will also be present to manage the crowd. During a recent meeting convened by Commissionerate Police, we have been instructed to conclude all mela and melody programmes by midnight.” Traffic DCP Tapan Mohanty says heavy vehicles will be banned from major thoroughfares where big puja pandals are located.

A detailed traffic advisory outlining alternative routes, diversions, and other important guidelines for commuters will be issued soon, he adds. Last year, the Commissionerate Police launched Operation Tribhuj, a tech-integrated surveillance initiative that utilised CCTV networks, drones, and mobile patrols equipped with VHF radio communication. This system enabled real-time monitoring of traffic congestion and ensured a swift response to emergencies. This year too, Operation Tribhuj is expected to be deployed extensively to enhance public safety and maintain smooth traffic flow during the festive season.

In the recent Durga Puja preparatory meeting, City Mayor Sulochana Das and BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana called for active cooperation of all departments and residents to ensure that the upcoming festivities are celebrated in an orderly and safe manner. Recognising the importance of proper lighting for both safety and traffic regulation, streetlight repairs across key roads and crowded areas have also been prioritised, with daily monitoring to ensure timely completion.

The Mayor emphasised that “timely road repairs and proper illumination will help reduce traffic congestion and enhance public safety,” and urged citizens to cooperate fully, assuring that the civic body, police, and other departments will take all necessary steps to maintain traffic flow and civic amenities throughout the festive period.

BMC Engineering Division has been directed to complete all pending road repair works by September 25, while departments like R&B, PWD, and IDCO have been instructed to finish their ongoing projects on a war footing.