Patna: The Bihar government is preparing a statewide push to improve pedestrian safety and ease road crossings, with plans to build more than 60 foot overbridges and redesign zebra crossings in urban areas.
The initiative forms part of the “Saat Nishchay-3” programme approved by the cabinet under chief minister Nitish Kumar after the last assembly elections. The scheme places emphasis on improving everyday urban infrastructure amid rising traffic congestion.
Officials in the Road Construction Department said work is under way to identify locations across districts where foot overbridges and footpaths are most urgently needed. District administrations have been asked to submit site reports, with feasibility studies to follow before construction begins.
As part of the plan, zebra crossings in cities will be redesigned with wider stripes and fitted with electric signals to regulate traffic. The signals are intended to temporarily halt vehicles, allowing pedestrians to cross safely within a fixed time window. Construction on these crossings is expected to begin soon.
More than half a dozen foot overbridges are proposed in Patna alone, with additional sites being finalised elsewhere in the state.
The department also plans to clear encroachments from existing footpaths, many of which have become unusable. These pathways will be restored and upgraded, while new footpaths will be built in areas currently lacking pedestrian infrastructure.
The measures are aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over road safety and accessibility, particularly in densely populated urban centres where traffic volumes have increased sharply in recent years.
