Patna Implements Strict Measures to Tackle Traffic Congestion
The transport department in Patna is rolling out a comprehensive new system aimed at curbing the escalating number of passenger vehicles and alleviating severe traffic congestion in the state capital. Under the proposed regulations, auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws registered in districts outside Patna will be prohibited from operating within the city limits.
Decision Taken in High-Level Meeting
A pivotal decision in this regard was made during a recent meeting chaired by Patna Divisional Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar, which included various stakeholders. Officials have identified that a significant influx of vehicles from neighboring districts is a primary contributor to the frequent traffic jams on Patna's roads.
These outstation vehicles will be systematically removed and restricted to operating solely within their home districts. Once this phase is completed, only autos and e-rickshaws registered in Patna will be permitted to run in the city, under a stringent color-coded, zone-based system.
Zone-Based System and Permit Allocation
The department has finalized plans to issue permits for 25,000 autos in areas covering the Patna Municipal Corporation, Phulwarisharif, Khagaul, and Danapur municipal councils. The entire application process will be conducted online through a dedicated portal, where applicants can submit requests for specific routes.
Patna will be divided into three distinct zones—Green, Blue, and Yellow—each with clearly defined routes and a fixed number of vehicles allowed. The number of vehicles on each route will be strictly regulated, with priority given to old permit holders during allocation.
Detailed Zone Breakdown
Green Zone: This zone includes key routes such as:
- Nala Road, CDA Building, and Patna Junction with 127 autos.
- Buddha Statue, Lohanipur, and Khemnichak with 170 autos/e-rickshaws.
- Gandhi Maidan to Ashok Rajpath via Malsalami and Didarganj, permitting 2,544 vehicles.
- Patna Junction, Kankarbagh, Kumhrar, Gulzarbagh, and Patna City with 3,576 vehicles.
Blue Zone: Notable routes in this zone are:
- GPO, Gardanibagh, Anisabad, Phulwarisharif, and Khagaul with 1,442 vehicles.
- Anisabad Golambar to Zero Mile and ISBT with 265 vehicles.
- Connections between Phulwarisharif, Birla Colony, and Jagdeo Path.
Yellow Zone: This zone features routes like:
- Multi-level parking hub to Raja Bazar, Ashiana, and Jagdeo Path via Saguna Mor with 848 vehicles.
- Gandhi Maidan to Bansghat, Rajapur Bridge, Kurji, and Digha up to Danapur with 1,696 vehicles.
- Coverage of Boring Road, Pataliputra, Digha Bridge, and Hajipur with specific permitted numbers.
Implementation Timeline and Safety Measures
Zone-wise operations are expected to commence following the next meeting scheduled for April 25. "Once the final proposal is received, the department will initiate the process of issuing permits," stated Rajkumar, Secretary of the Transport Department.
Additionally, for safety reasons, discussions have been held to ban e-rickshaws on certain major roads, including Marine Drive, Atal Path, Bailey Road (Nehru Path), Old Bypass, Exhibition Road, Bakarganj, Fraser Road, Gandhi Maidan, and the Anisabad to Phulwarisharif road.
Patna Divisional Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar also highlighted, "It was decided to create a free zone for autos operating in the reserve/prepaid category," ensuring flexibility within the new framework.
