The historic Zero Road bus station in Prayagraj has officially closed its doors to the public, marking the start of a major two-year redevelopment project. The ageing transit hub is set to be transformed into a modern facility with enhanced passenger amenities. This closure follows the earlier shutdown of the Civil Lines bus stand, significantly altering the city's public transport landscape.
Rerouting Buses and Passenger Inconvenience
With the immediate closure of Zero Road, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has shifted all bus operations from this key hub to a temporary facility at Leprosy Crossing in Naini. This move has displaced services to several crucial long-distance routes.
Buses previously operating from Zero Road served important destinations like Vindhyachal, Mirzapur, Renukoot, Sonbhadra, Obra, Shaktinagar, Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Khajuraho, Rewa, Chakghat, and Sidhi.
While the change is temporary, passengers have voiced concerns over the lack of basic facilities at the interim locations, especially for those undertaking night journeys. However, the closure has provided partial relief from the chronic traffic congestion that long plagued the areas surrounding the old bus station.
Traffic Management Emerges as Key Challenge
The dispersal of bus services to multiple temporary points has created new traffic bottlenecks across Prayagraj. The operation of buses from CMP Degree College has led to significant congestion on MG Marg. Similarly, buses originating from the Jhunsi workshop have turned Andawa Crossing into a major choke point. Leprosy Crossing itself has now emerged as a new traffic black spot.
A concrete traffic management plan is currently absent at these locations. There is an inadequate deployment of both traffic and civil police to manage the increased vehicle flow and crowd movement, exacerbating the situation.
Strategic Plans and Magh Mela Arrangements
Ravindra Kumar Singh, Regional Manager of UPSRTC for the Prayagraj region, confirmed the start of redevelopment work. "The bus station has been handed over to the company that won the tender," Singh stated. He added that a strategy is being prepared to manage operations until the Magh Mela concludes, after which a fresh plan will be implemented.
In anticipation of the massive crowds during the Magh Mela, UPSRTC has decided to continue operating buses from both Jhunsi and CMP College to handle the pressure.
Key operational details for passengers are as follows:
- Buses to Lucknow, Ayodhya, Kanpur, Sultanpur, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, and Kaushambi are now operating from the KP Trust Ground in front of CMP Degree College. This location has been designated as the Vidya Vahini Bus Station.
- Major routes to eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, and Azamgarh, are being serviced from the temporary bus station at the Jhunsi workshop.
The city now navigates a period of transition, balancing the promise of a future modern bus station with the present-day realities of traffic disruption and passenger adjustment.
