The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has unveiled a comprehensive blueprint aimed at transforming the city's urban landscape by 2026. With a clear focus on enhancing cleanliness, easing public movement, and improving overall liveability, the civic body has laid out an extensive roadmap for significant infrastructure advancements.
Replicating Success: A City-Wide Network of Organised Vending Zones
Building on the positive outcome of the model vending zone established this year at Kadamkuan, the PMC plans a major expansion of this initiative. The Kadamkuan project successfully provided permanent spaces to street vendors, which simultaneously addressed issues of encroachment and improved traffic flow. Inspired by this success, the corporation will now create organised vending zones across the entire city.
A total of 26 new vending zones are planned across four administrative circles. The breakdown is as follows: 10 zones in Patliputra circle, 4 in Bankipur, 7 in New Capital, and 5 in Kankarbagh. To ensure the best possible implementation, Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena, along with the additional municipal commissioner, circle executive officers, and other officials, personally conducted site inspections. They assessed critical factors like location suitability, traffic accessibility, and overall public convenience, issuing necessary directives on the spot.
Turning Waste into Wealth: The Integrated Solid Waste Management Project
A cornerstone of Patna's future vision is an ambitious environmental project. Commissioner Meena announced that the Integrated Solid Waste Management Project will soon begin operations, focusing on converting the city's waste into useful energy. This large-scale initiative includes several key components:
- A 15 MW waste-to-energy plant.
- A 100 TPD (Tonnes Per Day) bio-CNG production facility.
- Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) units.
- A 700 TPD composting plant.
- Scientific sanitary landfills.
Meena emphasized that this project is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including a positive environmental impact, the creation of new employment opportunities, and the involvement of international companies in Patna's development.
Comprehensive Civic Upgrades for a Brighter, Safer Patna
The PMC's roadmap extends beyond vending and waste management to address fundamental urban amenities. The commissioner stated that roads, footpaths, and drains are slated for major repairs, a move directly aimed at solving the persistent problem of waterlogging during monsoons.
To enhance safety and aesthetics after dark, the city will see a significant boost in lighting infrastructure. The plan includes adding more street lights and installing high-mast lights to ensure the entire city is well-lit at night. A detailed survey is currently underway to determine the exact number and placement of lights required.
Prioritizing public health and women's safety, the corporation will increase the number of public toilets, with a special focus on 'pink toilets' for women, in busy and crowded areas. Furthermore, to add vibrancy and beauty to public spaces, artistic and colourful wall paintings will be created on public walls and along main roads across Patna.
This multi-pronged strategy by the Patna Municipal Corporation represents a holistic effort to address both the functional and aesthetic needs of the city, aiming to deliver a markedly improved urban experience for its residents by 2026.
