Potholes, dug-up roads give commuters a nightmare in Jharpada

WITH the ongoing monsoon season underway, potholed roads and waterlogged stretches have turned commuting a daily challenge for people on Jharpada and Laxmisagar areas of the city, which are already grappling with poor condition of road service.

- SUDARSAN MAHARANA

Locals complained that the jail road, that connects Jharpada with other key areas like Laxmisagar and Jagannath Nagar, has been lying dug up for the past several months causing severe inconvenience for the public. They alleged that the repair work on the stretch which started just before the onset of monsoon, remained incomplete for months, leading to severe waterlogging making it difficult for vehicles to pass on the route.

"The road is in such a bad shape that even a 10 to 15 minute spell of rain brings traffic to a complete halt. The pothole-ridden road poses serious risk for commuters, especially during the nights," rued an auto-rickshaw driver. Apart from potholes, partially-uncovered drains and lack of proper road surfacing have made the entire Jharpada including the Durga Mandap and Canal road hazardous for both pedestrians and motorists.