Illegal parking chokes Cuttack city’s commercial zone | Bhubaneswar News

Cuttack: The Chandini Chowk–Sheikh Bazaar stretch, one of the busiest commercial zones in Cuttack city, has turned into a traffic bottleneck due to illegal parking on both sides of the road.The narrow corridor witnesses heavy footfall and vehicular movement throughout the day. However, vehicles parked haphazardly along the roadside have reduced the carriageway, leading to frequent snarls, especially during peak business hours. Local shopkeepers said customers are finding it difficult to access markets due to congestion. Emergency vehicles and ambulances also face delays while passing through the stretch.“The road has virtually become a parking lot. Customers often avoid coming here because they get stuck in traffic for long periods,” Ramesh Sahu, a vendor at Sheikh Bazaar, said.Autorickshaw driver Sanjay Behera said congestion is affecting earnings. “We spend more time stuck in jams than transporting passengers. The road has become extremely difficult to navigate,” he added.Pratap Das, a commuter, said a short trip to the market often stretches into a long wait. “A journey that should take five minutes often takes more than 20 minutes. Authorities need to act immediately,” he said, alleging that illegal parking has continued for months.Madhusmita Mohanty, a resident of Chandini Chowk, alleged that enforcement drives are irregular. “I can hardly remember when the was last time that traffic personnel conducted checks here. Vehicles are parked illegally all the time but there is no continuous monitoring,” she said.When asked, DCP (Cuttack) Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo said police are aware of the problem. “An enforcement drive will be conducted soon. We appeal to vehicle owners to use designated parking spaces and cooperate in ensuring smooth traffic movement,” he added.