Cuttack: Bali Jatra reveller had a harrowing time on Sunday as the Mahanadi ring road, stretching for more than 3.5 km from Sikharpur and Chahata to the fairground, witnessed traffic snarls, in both directions, from 5 pm.
Such was the congestion that it took them about two hours to reach the ground from Jobra Barrage Chhak or Chahata Chhak with their vehicles. The jam situation went out of control in the evening and police were seen diverting vehicles coming towards the Bali Jatra onto the connecting roads.
While this situation is being attributed to inadequate parking places at Bali Jatra, those managing the designated parking spots blamed the jam on people, who leave their vehicles parked along the road.
Sources, however, said that the parking lots get filled up by 6 pm and with no space available, people are forced to leave their vehicles by the roadside. Taking vehicles out from the jam-packed parking places located near the fairground is another problem.
Apprehending huge footfall, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation had identified and auctioned 21 parking places but found no takers for eight.
Notably, Cuttack DCP Pinak Mishra advised the people of Bhubaneswar to take an alternative route or the National Highway – 16 in view of the immersion ceremony of Lord Kartikeswar at Barang on Sunday.
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