Bhubaneswar: In a bid to tackle the rising traffic congestion in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the Odisha government today constituted a special committee to devise both immediate and long-term solutions.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held on May 5 under the chairmanship of Development Commissioner Deoranjan Singh.

The committee comprises key officials, including the Chief Construction Engineer (Central R&B Circle) of the Works Department, the Additional Commissioner of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Engineer Member of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the Traffic ACP of the Commissionerate Police, and the Additional DCP of the Traffic Police.

The panel has been tasked with addressing traffic-related challenges in a coordinated manner by ensuring effective collaboration among various departments and agencies.

The Works Department’s official notification mentioned traffic congestion has been steadily increasing at several locations across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The committee will identify congestion-prone areas and evaluate as well as approve short-term measures to ease traffic flow.

It will also focus on facilitating smoother movement of both vehicles and pedestrians, implementing necessary changes in road layouts, and strengthening overall traffic management systems.