Patna: For the first time, a comprehensive traffic survey has been conducted in Patna, offering fresh insights into the city’s road congestion patterns. Based on the parameters of the globally recognised TomTom Traffic Index, the study paints a picture of Patna’s daily grind—where the average commuter takes 25 minutes and 12 seconds to cover just 10 kilometres.
Conducted over ten days between March 31 and April 10, the survey highlights an average vehicular speed of 24 kilometres per hour in the city—slower than Chennai (30 minutes to 10km) and Kolkata (35 minutes), but marginally more efficient than Delhi, where commuters spend 23 minutes for the same distance.
The initiative was spearheaded by Patna Traffic SP Aparajit Lohan in collaboration with the traffic police and community traffic volunteers from NCC’s Udaan programme. Lohan said the idea stemmed from persistent complaints from residents about routine congestion across the city.
“We wanted to assess the actual situation using a combination of Google Maps data and physical verification,” Lohan explained. The survey spanned 7am to 10pm daily, focusing on major traffic intersections—primarily Dakbungla Chauraha and Saguna Mor—as hubs to monitor flow across 33 and 7 routes, respectively.
Interestingly, the findings suggest that Patna’s traffic, though often criticised, performs relatively well in comparison with several major metros. “The system here is more balanced than is commonly perceived,” Lohan said, adding that such data-driven approaches can inform better traffic management and urban planning.
While congestion remains a pressing issue during peak hours, officials say this pilot survey will pave the way for further reforms and potentially a city-wide intelligent traffic system.
