Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started the most critical phase of construction and restoration of a major stormwater drain between Rasulgarh and Kalpana Square, an area known for heavy waterlogging during monsoon.A nearly 200-metre-long stretch from the middle of the Bomikhal road overbridge to a mall in the locality has long remained a trouble spot, with commuters often forced to wade through knee-deep water after even moderate rainfall.Civic officials said the problem persisted for years due to a dead drain that had either collapsed or remained choked due to massive encroachment issues, causing rainwater to flow onto the carriageway and cause inconvenience.At present, BMC teams are facing significant challenges in executing the work, as overflowing water and accumulated debris continue to hinder construction. Despite the difficulties, officials said the drain revival is being fast-tracked well ahead of the monsoon. “This is the most difficult portion of the project. The drain here remained defunct for years, causing waterlogging every monsoon. We are clearing silt, debris and stagnant water simultaneously while reconstructing the drain,” a contractor at the site said.City mayor Sulochana Das said that the storm water drains on the Cuttack-Puri Road between Rasulgarh and Kalpana Square are almost revived on both sides of the stretch. “It was a long-pending project which is nearing completion now,” she said.Local residents, who have endured repeated flooding and traffic snarls in the area, expressed cautious optimism. “Every year during the rains, this stretch becomes difficult to navigate through,” Prakash Jena, a resident of Bomikhal, said.He added that office-goers, schoolchildren and even ambulances get stuck. “If the drain finally starts functioning properly, it will be a huge relief for a majority of people. This is one of the oldest and busiest stretches of the city,” Jena said.Commuters also welcomed the early execution of the work. “Waterlogging is not just an inconvenience but a safety risk. It is good that the work is being taken up before the monsoon instead after the damage is done,” Rita Mohanty, a commuter, said.BMC officials said the revived drain along the entire Rasulgarh-Kalpana Square stretch is likely to be completed by May and will significantly reduce water accumulation on the road, improving traffic flow and public safety during the rains.
