Bhubaneswar: To ensure proper restoration of roads after trenching activities, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made it mandatory for utility agencies and individuals to obtain road-cutting or trenching permission only through its online portal. Offline applications will no longer be entertained, officials said.The decision comes amid growing complaints that after digging roads for laying pipelines, cables or other utilities, agencies and individuals often leave the stretches unattended or in a damaged condition for weeks, leading to traffic chaos and inconvenience to commuters.According to an official order issued by BMC, all agencies, including water supply, power, telecommunication and cable service providers, must now apply for road trenching permission through the civic body’s official website. The move aims to streamline the permission process and maintain proper records, the order reads.It states that the application to be submitted by the agencies and individuals must clearly mention details such as the exact location, purpose of digging, duration of work and a proper restoration plan for the road surface. Officials will verify the details and then grant or reject the applications accordingly.“The move is aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency. Through the online system, we will be able to track who has dug which stretch, for what purpose and whether the restoration has been done within the stipulated time. Monitoring of repair work will be an integral part of the approval process,” said mayor Sulochana Das.BMC officials said concerned departments will process and monitor applications digitally to ensure compliance with conditions, especially timely resurfacing of the road after completion of work. The civic body will take action as per law if it finds any violation. The order came into effect immediately.Road users in the city have welcomed the decision, saying unattended trenches have long been a civic menace. “Many roads are dug and left in that state for months. It causes traffic jams and is dangerous, especially at night. If BMC can track and enforce restoration, it will be a big relief for daily commuters,” said Anil Sahu, a resident of Nayapalli.Another commuter, Priyanka Mohanty, said accountability was long overdue. “There should be penalties if agencies don’t repair the road properly. An online system may help fix responsibility. I hope the agencies and individuals will comply with the direction of the BMC. It will be a long-term solution,” she said.
