In a significant move to decongest its core areas, the Bhagalpur district administration has successfully shifted the city's old and chaotic bus stand from a densely packed zone near the railway station to a new location at Rickshadih on the outskirts.
End of an Era at the Congested Railway Station Area
The former bus stand was situated in one of the most crowded parts of Bhagalpur, adjacent to the railway station and a vital bridge known locally as 'ultapul'. This bridge serves as a crucial link between the station and the southern sections of the city. For years, the area suffered from severe daily traffic gridlocks due to haphazard parking by private interstate buses and heavy commercial vehicles. The problem was compounded by the proliferation of small food stalls, fruit vendors, and kiosks serving bus passengers and railway commuters.
Residents had long voiced their frustrations, highlighting that the relentless jams caused major inconvenience to ambulances carrying patients, schoolchildren, train passengers, and daily commuters. The situation demanded urgent administrative intervention.
A Collaborative Decision for Public Relief
After a thorough review of the persistent issue, district officials joined forces with city police, traffic police, and railway authorities to find a permanent solution. The collective decision was to relocate the bus stand to a more suitable location outside the main city to alleviate pressure on the central traffic corridors.
The relocation was executed under the jurisdiction of the Bhagalpur bypass police station area. While the move was largely welcomed, it did meet with minor resentment from some private bus operators accustomed to the old, central location.
Officials Inspect New Site, Promise Comprehensive Facilities
Deputy Development Commissioner and Incharge District Magistrate Pradeep Singh, along with City SP Shubhank Mishra and other officials, personally visited the new bus stand site at Rickshadih to oversee the transition. Singh stated that the primary aim of the shift is to provide much-needed relief to the general public.
"We are making arrangements including a proper bus stand, ticket counters, lavatories, drinking water facilities, security, and other amenities for the passengers and stakeholders, including bus operators and their personnel, at the newly shifted bus stand at Rickshadih," assured Singh.
He further added that facilities for commuters traveling to and from the new bus stand are also in the planning stages. Different government departments and agencies have been directed to ensure adequate infrastructure is developed at the new location promptly.
Strict Monitoring to Prevent Future Congestion
To ensure the success of this decongestion drive and prevent the problem from merely shifting to another area, the administration has issued strict directives. The city police, traffic police, and district transport officials have been instructed to closely monitor the functioning of the new Rickshadih bus stand.
Their mandate includes taking stringent action against any illegal parking of buses and heavy vehicles to forestall the emergence of fresh traffic bottlenecks in city areas. This proactive approach underscores the administration's commitment to a long-term solution for Bhagalpur's traffic woes.
