Bhubaneswar: Once redesigned as a model smart road, Janpath in Bhubaneswar is now grappling with growing traffic congestion and parking chaos. Despite being one of the busiest and most prominent roads in the state capital, the stretch has become increasingly difficult to navigate. Commuters report that crossing the road can now take a long time, largely due to unregulated parking and rising vehicle numbers.

The situation has worsened as motorists continue to park vehicles haphazardly along the main road. With designated parking spaces often unavailable or ignored, many drivers are spilling into adjoining lanes and narrow bylanes, further choking traffic movement across the area.

To address these issues, the state government had introduced the ‘Mo Parking’ system in 2021-22 as part of its smart city initiative. The system aimed to streamline parking through technology, allowing users to check slot availability and book spaces in advance via a mobile application. The project involved significant investment, including the installation of 1,180 smart e-parking devices sourced from a Karnataka-based technology firm.

In its initial phase, the system showed promising results. It generated nearly Rs 20,000 in daily revenue and about Rs 18 lakh within the first three months. It also helped reduce corruption and improve parking discipline.

However, the infrastructure has now fallen into disuse. Sources indicate that despite its early success, the system was gradually rendered non-functional. Observers point to a lack of political will as a key reason behind its failure to sustain operations.

Residents say the impact is clearly visible. With both population and vehicle numbers rising, the absence of an efficient parking system has only intensified the problem.

Janpath was among the first projects taken up after Bhubaneswar received its Smart City tag. The stretch from Shishu Bhawan Square to Vani Vihar was upgraded with widened roads, beautification, and modern infrastructure. The ‘Mo Parking’ initiative was expected to complement these developments by easing congestion.

Citizens who had used the system earlier are now demanding its revival. Retired army officer Rajanikant Nayak said the system had made parking predictable and hassle-free. “We knew in advance where to park and didn’t have to roam around searching for space,” he said.

Similar views were echoed by residents like Debashish Mishra and Srikant Pradhan from Bapuji Nagar. They stressed that reactivating the system is essential to control traffic and parking issues.

With congestion mounting and no alternative mechanism in place, residents warn that the situation will continue to deteriorate unless immediate corrective steps are taken.