Patna: In an effort to manage traffic congestion in Patna and surrounding areas, the Patna Municipal Corporation, along with the Phulwari and Khagaul Municipal Councils and Danapur Municipal Council area, is implementing a zoning system for auto-rickshaws.
Approximately 25,000 autos operating within these areas will be assigned to one of three zones, identified by yellow, green, and blue color codes. The city has been grappling with traffic issues due to the high volume of vehicles and illegal roadside vending zones.
Under the new system, Patna will be divided into three operational zones. Yellow-coded autos will operate in Zone 1, green-coded autos in Zone 2, and blue-coded autos in Zone 3. Auto drivers who operate outside their designated zones will face fines, and repeated violations could result in permit cancellation. This measure aims to streamline auto traffic and improve overall traffic flow within the city.
E-rickshaw Operations and Route Disruptions
The district administration is also considering regulating e-rickshaw operations by assigning them to specific stations. A committee is being formed to study the issue and submit a report with recommendations. Patna DM Dr Chandrashekhar Singh stated that the goal is to control e-rickshaw operations while also improving convenience for the public.
The committee’s report will inform future actions regarding e-rickshaw management. Meanwhile, bus services on the Gandhi Maidan-Bihta route have been suspended due to ongoing road widening work on the Danapur-Bihta road and persistent traffic congestion on the Bihta-Amhara main road.
This disruption is causing significant inconvenience for over 10,000 daily commuters travelling between Gandhi Maidan, Dak Bungalow Square, Bailey Road Rajabazar, IGIMS, Saguna Mod, Danapur, Danapur Station, and Bihta/Amhara IIT. The bus fare from Gandhi Maidan to Bihta was Rs. 60, while a reserved auto now costs up to Rs. 600.
The suspension of bus number 888 has further reduced bus availability on the Bailey Road-Bihta route by approximately 16 percent, impacting commuters travelling between Gandhi Maidan and Danapur (30 percent of total passengers) and those travelling between Bihta and Danapur (70 percent of total passengers).
Zone Designations and Auto Identification
The designated zones are as follows: Zone 1 (yellow autos) covers Danapur, Rupaspur, Digha, AN College, GPO, and Patna Junction, encompassing north-western Patna. Zone 2 (green autos) includes Patna Junction, GPO, PMCH, Rajendra Nagar, Gaighat, and Patliputra Bus Terminal, covering north-eastern and south-eastern Patna.
Zone 3 (blue autos) covers AIIMS, Anisabad Golambar, and Patliputra Bus Terminal, covering south-western Patna. To ensure easy identification and enforcement, each auto driver will be required to display the color code corresponding to their assigned zone, along with a route code. Traffic police will enforce these regulations and take action against violators.
