Patna: Bihar’s entire National Highway network will soon come under dedicated traffic police patrols as the state prepares to deploy interceptor vehicles at regular intervals to improve road safety and emergency response.
According to officials at the Police Headquarters, 58 new interceptor vehicles are expected to join the traffic police fleet this month. Their deployment will extend patrol coverage across the state’s nearly 6,300 km of National Highways, with one vehicle assigned to approximately every 50 km stretch.
What Is Changing on Bihar’s National Highways?
Until now, 61 interceptor vehicles have been patrolling around 3,000 km of National Highways in Bihar. Police officials said the additional vehicles will allow the patrol system to cover the remaining highway network, creating continuous traffic monitoring across the state.
The move is intended to strengthen enforcement against traffic violations while improving the police’s ability to respond quickly to accidents and other incidents on major roads.
Why the Expansion Matters
According to Police Headquarters, Bihar records an average of around 12,000 road accidents each year. Officials said between 40 and 45 per cent of these crashes occur on National Highways, with speeding identified as one of the leading causes.
The expanded patrol network is aimed at reducing such accidents through increased enforcement and visible police presence on highways.
How the Interceptor Vehicles Will Be Used
Police officials said the interceptor vehicles will be equipped with cameras and speed guns to detect speeding vehicles. The system will enable traffic police to issue e-challans to motorists found violating speed limits.
The vehicles will also include voice recording facilities, which officials said could be used as evidence in cases involving traffic violations or related investigations.
Beyond traffic enforcement, the patrol units will undertake security and surveillance duties along National Highways. According to officials, they will help monitor issues including encroachments and other activities affecting highway safety.
Integration With Dial-112
The new interceptor vehicles will also be linked to the state’s Dial-112 emergency response system, according to Police Headquarters.
Officials said the integration is expected to improve coordination during road accidents and other emergencies, allowing police to reach incident sites more quickly. Faster response times could increase the chances of accident victims receiving medical assistance within the critical “golden hour”, when prompt treatment is considered most effective.
Police Headquarters said the 58 interceptor vehicles are expected to be inducted into service this month. Once deployed, Bihar’s National Highway network will be covered by dedicated traffic patrols at roughly 50 km intervals, with officials expecting the expanded system to strengthen traffic enforcement, improve surveillance and support faster emergency response across the state’s highways.
