Bhubaneswar, 10th Oct 2025: The stretch of road from Udayagiri foothills to Charichhak, near Khandagiri on the National Highway (NH), has virtually been taken over by private buses. These buses are illegally parked, repaired, and even washed right on the public road, turning it into a makeshift garage.
⚠️ Public Roads Used as Bus Depots
Mechanics openly repair buses on the road.
Buses are parked and washed in the open.
Despite this being a government road, no action has been taken for years by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) or traffic police.
Restrictions on illegal parking apply elsewhere but not in this area, especially not near Baramunda Bus Stand or Khandagiri.
As a result, this road has become accident-prone, with frequent traffic jams, particularly during school and office hours.
🛠️ Makeshift Garages and Illegal Loading
From 7 AM to 8 PM, large night coaches and tourist buses remain parked near the Khandagiri foothills.
A private garage is running on government land, servicing buses openly.
Evenings see loading of goods onto buses right on the road, worsening the traffic congestion.
Residents and commuters face severe inconvenience due to narrowed roads and obstructions.
🍲 Cooking and Living on the Road
Tourist buses also park here and people are seen cooking food on the roadside.
Some even eat and rest on the road itself.
This continues despite ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) having a designated party area in the vicinity — raising questions about lack of enforcement.
🛑 Illegal Service Centers & Environmental Hazards
Several unauthorized service centers have popped up on both sides of the Khandagiri-Baramunda route.
These dump oily water and waste on the roads.
Earlier, a road connecting Khandagiri to Nalagate was accessible, but ASI closed it, forcing more vehicles to use the Khandagiri-Udayagiri-Charichhak stretch.
The entire road is now under chaotic occupation by buses, and neither BDA nor police have acted.
💬 Official Response (Or Lack Thereof)
Traffic DCP Tapan Kumar Mohanty admitted that buses are parked illegally, and action will be taken.
A senior BDA official stated a bus depot is planned, and they’ve provided a temporary space, but some drivers continue to misuse public roads.
🔴 Key Issues Highlighted:
🚫 Government road misused as private garage.
⚠️ No enforcement by BDA or traffic police.
🚧 Massive inconvenience and accident risks for public.
🌍 Environmental damage due to waste from vehicle servicing.
🚌 Public infrastructure being hijacked by private operators.
This situation reflects severe urban mismanagement, lack of enforcement, and unauthorized occupation of public infrastructure. Immediate intervention by BDA, traffic police, and municipal authorities is essential to restore order, ensure safety, and maintain cleanliness in a key heritage area frequented by locals and tourists alike.
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