The streets of Patna have transformed into daily battlefields where blaring horns, gridlocked intersections, and exhausted commuters have become the norm. What should be simple routine errands have turned into draining ordeals due to relentless traffic congestion that plagues the city from morning until night.
Key Trouble Zones Overwhelmed by Vehicles
From the sprawling Bypass to the congested arteries surrounding Gandhi Maidan, critical choke points across the city remain overwhelmed by heavy vehicle flow, illegal parking, and encroachments. Major problem areas include Chirayatand Pul, Patna Station Road, Patliputra, Boring Road, Mithapur, Exhibition Road, and Rajeev Nagar.
Harried commuters ranging from office workers to parents transporting children navigate hours-long delays and rising frustration levels. The situation has become so severe that even school students find themselves consistently late despite starting their journeys early.
Administration Springs Into Action
In response to the growing crisis, the district administration and traffic police have introduced a series of diversions, route changes, and one-way systems aimed at preventing chaotic vehicle convergence from multiple directions.
Patna traffic SP Vaibhav Sharma stated, "Our primary goal is to decongest the intersection and ensure smoother travel for schoolchildren, office-goers, and residents." He revealed that based on traffic patterns and peak hours, authorities are preparing a comprehensive traffic plan considering all angles and challenges. The complete plan is expected to be ready within a couple of days, with temporary measures currently being implemented as required.
Detailed Inspection and Future Plans
On Thursday, municipal commissioner Yashpal Meena and SSP Kartikeya K Sharma conducted a thorough inspection of Patna Junction railway station and its surrounding areas, one of the city's most crowded zones handling the movement of lakhs of passengers daily.
They reviewed major approach roads, footpaths, parking areas, street lighting, encroachments, cleanliness, and pedestrian movement ease. A drone survey identified several "dead spaces" - unused land patches that could be repurposed for public benefit.
Meena announced that these areas would be converted into useful public spaces featuring enhanced passenger amenities, organized parking, wider pedestrian walkways, green belts, and beautification features. "These steps are expected to ease congestion, provide relief to walkers and improve the overall look and functionality of the junction area," he affirmed.
He issued strict directives to remove illegal encroachments and unauthorized parking around the station. Joint teams from the municipal corporation and traffic police received instructions to clear footpaths, take immediate action against illegal parking, and prevent vehicle accumulation at station entrances.
To establish lasting order around Patna Junction, authorities plan to introduce "Drop and Go" zones, a new vehicle circulation plan, and clearly marked no-parking belts in the near future.
Commuters Voice Their Frustrations
Near Gandhi Maidan, commuter Amrit Suryavanshi expressed his concerns: "Buses, autos, and e-rickshaws halt on roads instead of the stand – it's reckless." He specifically blamed e-rickshaws for traffic congestion, noting they stop in the middle of the road to pick up or drop passengers without following traffic rules.
Mukesh Kumar from Bhattacharyya Road observed that vehicle numbers, especially e-rickshaws, have surged dramatically over the past four years. "They cause traffic jams. Even the buses and autos never abide by traffic rules and block roads for passengers," he stated, adding that encroachment and haphazard parking worsen the problem.
School student Shruti Sinha shared her daily struggle: "The Bypass remains perpetually clogged due to heavy vehicles. No matter how early I start, I am always late for school." She revealed that even school buses arrive late, sometimes during assembly or afterward, affecting numerous students.
To ease congestion at Rajiv Nagar intersection, additional traffic personnel will be deployed near Sai Mandir, Shivpuri, Rajiv Nagar intersection, Digha Haat underpass, and Rajiv Nagar drain to ensure smooth functioning of the new one-way system currently on trial.
