Impact of ‘Arnab’: Traffic Heavily Affected on NH-16 Until Oct 30, Toll Gate Traffic Thinned Out .
Bhubaneswar, Nov 1 (Sambad Odisha): Due to the impact of cyclonic circulation ‘Arnab’, vehicular traffic on the crucial National Highway-16 connecting Kolkata and Chennai was severely affected until October 30. Due to adverse weather conditions and precautionary measures, the movement of long-distance vehicles and buses witnessed a significant decline during this period.Cyclone ‘Arnab’ made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. Although it weakened somewhat while moving further, its indirect impact was extensively felt across southern Odisha and coastal districts. During this period, train services were disrupted, restrictions and advisories were issued on bus connectivity between various regions, and normal life was thrown out of gear due to waterlogging and uprooted trees blocking roads. Vehicle owners and bus operators traveling along the main NH-16 corridor noted that the volume of passengers and transport vehicles had dropped drastically through October 30.The most prominent impact of this was observed at the Godipada Toll Plaza under the Jankia police station limits in Khordha district. Up to October 30, the usual heavy congestion of motor vehicles at the toll gate was conspicuously absent. With only a few local vehicles plying during this period, the entire toll plaza area wore a deserted look.However, with weather conditions improving from October 31 onwards, regular vehicular traffic has resumed through the toll gate. Nevertheless, drivers are currently facing delays and difficulties because several automated gates are reportedly malfunctioning, leading to fresh traffic tailba
