Cuttack: Commuting in Mahanadi Vihar has turned into a nightmare as residents have to grapple with severely damaged roads, riddled with potholes, making travel hazardous, particularly during the ongoing monsoon.Major internal roads and connecting stretches linking the residential area with Ring Road and other arterial routes have deteriorated, posing risks to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike.Frequent rainfall has worsened the condition, with potholes getting waterlogged, making it difficult for commuters to judge their depth. Residents said two-wheelers often skidded.They alleged that despite repeated complaints, only temporary patchwork has been carried out, which gets washed away after every spell of rain. “Every rainy day becomes a nightmare. Water-filled potholes are invisible, and we fear accidents every time we step out. Permanent repairs are urgently needed,” said Sanjay Das, a resident.Cuttack mayor Subhash Singh said a team has been formed to look into the pothole issue. “We will ensure the pothole-ridden stretches are repaired at the earliest. Due to rain, many places have been damaged,” said Singh.The stretch near the Mahanadi Vihar Post Office has emerged as one of the worst-affected patches in the locality. Large potholes, uneven road surface and waterlogging make the road virtually impassable.“The locality houses thousands of families, and deserves better road infrastructure, as the poor condition not only slows traffic movement but also increases the risk of accidents, particularly for two-wheeler riders, during monsoon,” said Rayashree Satyaranjan Nayak, another resident, adding the authorities must not play with the lives of the commuters.Another approach road to Mahanadi Vihar from the Nua bazaar side has also deteriorated into a stretch riddled with potholes and craters. Despite being a key access route used by hundreds of residents every day, the road has remained neglected for months.“The authorities wake up only after a major accident. Despite repeated complaints, these dangerous potholes have been ignored for months. We fear for our safety every time we step out, especially at night,” said Sanjit Giri, a commuter, urging the authorities to repair it at the earliest.
