Ekamra Kshetra grappling with series of civic issues

Bhubaneswar: Old Town, famously known as the Ekamra Kshetra of the temple city, is currently grappling with a plethora of civic predicaments, including dilapidated roads, congested drains and an entanglement of overhead open wires, causing immense inconvenience to the residents.
Encroachment by street vendors on the roads on the other hand is causing traffic congestion in the internal arteries of the area.
Residents have alleged that the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is not adequately addressing the grievances they have been submitting.
“Old Town is the quintessence of the city. It is due to this specific area that Bhubaneswar has earned its reputation as the temple city of the nation. The current state of the roads and drains is not projecting a favorable impression to the visitors,” said Amit Mishra, a local resident.
From Tankapani Road to Rath Road, and from Samantarapur to Kedar Gauri Temple, the pressing concerns of roads and drains, coupled with traffic snarls caused by encroachment, are creating a nightmarish experience not only for the residents but also for the visitors.
City mayor Sulochana Das acknowledged the issues and assured that they are being addressed periodically. "The roads and drains of the area are regularly maintained and cleaned by our staff. The encroachment issues will be tackled meticulously," she affirmed.
Ekamra Kshetra is home to a collection of ancient temples, including Lingaraj Temple and Raja Rani Temple, among others, along with heritage ponds and water tanks such as Bindu Sagar, making it one of the most favoured areas by tourists visiting the city.
"Old towns are typically the areas from where a city originates. I never miss the opportunity to explore old towns of any city. Bhubaneswar's Old Town is magnificent for its centuries-old temples, but I concur with the civic challenges," said Aviral Tripathy, a visitor from Prayagraj.
Residents have demanded that the civic authorities undertake regular enforcement drives to tackle the encroachment issues. “The street vending should be organized in the area to ensure that the encroachers do not resurface," suggested Priyanka Das, another resident of the area.