Patna: Traffic congestion around Patna Junction and key city roundabouts has reached critical levels as auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers repeatedly stop on main roads to pick up and drop off passengers. The problem is particularly acute around GPO and Station Roundabouts, where drivers’ arbitrary actions are causing long queues of vehicles and slowing the flow of traffic.
At Pal Hotel, drivers coming from Goriatoli use a U-turn to drop and pick up passengers, creating a near-constant bottleneck. Meanwhile, at the GPO Roundabout, autos occupy half of the road while waiting for passengers, further impeding traffic. Although some services operating towards Kankarbagh and Hanuman Nagar have shifted their pick-up points to Tata Park, many drivers continue to congregate near Pal Hotel, forcing passengers to choose between waiting at designated hubs or boarding on the roadside.
The Station Roundabout has also been hit by congestion, exacerbated by VIP vehicles parked along the edges and commuters leaving bikes for shopping or work. Traffic police have responded by confiscating over a dozen bikes and issuing fines. Officials stress that autos are required to operate from the Multi-Modal Hub, but roadside pick-ups persist up to the GPO Roundabout, adding to congestion.
Passengers stopping near the Mahavir Temple further slow traffic, while roadside parking has narrowed major thoroughfares across the city. In an attempt to tackle the problem, authorities have imposed a complete parking ban at four new locations in the Kotwali OP area, including Income Tax Roundabout, Nehru Path, Dakbangla Square, Buddha Marg, and the area outside ISKCON Temple. Despite the installation of no-parking signs and warnings of strict enforcement, vehicles continue to block roads, prompting calls for more decisive action.
Traffic police have warned that the ban on parking in these areas will be strictly enforced. Yet, congestion in Patna’s key commercial and transit zones remains a persistent challenge, highlighting the urgent need for effective traffic management measures.
