HC asks Cuttack admn, CMC to curb traffic jams during puja

Cuttack: Orissa high court has directed the Cuttack district administration and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to take “appropriate steps” to prevent traffic congestion due to construction of pandals and gates by Durga Puja organisers in the city. Over 150 pujas are organised in the city with committees creating elaborate bamboo gates, sometimes using thousands of bamboo pieces and many logs.
Since 2000, the court has prohibited puja committees from digging up roads without approval from the CMC to ensure they are returned to their original condition post-festival, with permissions and funds handled by the civic body.In 2010, a security deposit was introduced for the puja committees.
The issue was brought before the special bench for suo motu PILs on civic issues in Cuttack by the High Court Bar Association (HCBA). HCBA president Bijay Dash raised concerns about traffic jams resulting from elaborate bamboo gates built on roads. Taking the concerns into account, the two-judge bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingha acknowledged the situation and expressed optimism the measures assured by the authorities “would be effectively implemented” during the festival.
On the bench’s query regarding HCBA’s grievance, Cuttack collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, appearing virtually, assured the court that teams would be deputed to visit each mandap to ensure the temporary constructions do not create any obstruction or hinder traffic flow. Assistant fire officer (Cuttack fire station), Sanjeev Kumar Behera, stated in an affidavit that in addition to the three existing fire stations, six temporary ones would be set up. Furthermore, bike patrolling units and quick response units would be deployed areas with large gatherings to handle any emergency.