New Foot Overbridges to Enhance Pedestrian Safety in Patna

Patna: In a bid to enhance pedestrian safety and curb the rising number of road accidents in Patna, five new foot overbridges (FoBs) are slated to be constructed across strategic locations in the city. The decision was announced during a recent meeting of the Bihar Road Safety Council, chaired by the state’s transport secretary, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal.

The proposed FoBs will be erected at key spots including Punaichak, Patna Zoo (gate number 1), Planetarium, Kankarbagh, and between Saguna Mor and Danapur. This initiative aims to provide pedestrians with safe passage across busy thoroughfares and high-speed corridors, mitigating the risks associated with crossing roads directly.

Addressing the pressing concern of pedestrian safety, Agarwal highlighted the necessity of such infrastructure, particularly emphasizing the hazardous conditions along Nehru Marg (Bailey Road). “Road accidents often stem from inadequate pedestrian facilities,” he remarked, noting the imperative need for FoBs to alleviate this issue.

The budget allocation for the construction of these FoBs has been approved in the recent session of the Bihar Road Safety Council. Agarwal has directed the road construction department and Bihar State Road Development Corporation Ltd. (BSRDCL) to swiftly prepare estimates and designs for the proposed bridges. Once the estimates are received, clearance requests will be forwarded to the relevant authorities, including the Election Commission.

Moreover, it was decided that the speed limits along major routes such as Atal Path will be rigorously enforced to deter overspeeding, a leading cause of accidents. The prescribed speed limits are set at 70 km/h for four-wheelers and other vehicles, 50 km/h for buses, and 30 km/h for three-wheelers and autos. To ensure compliance, speed cameras will be deployed, with penalties imposed on violators.

In tandem with these measures, Agarwal directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) Traffic, Patna, to conduct a comprehensive study of accident causes on Bailey Road, Atal Path, and Ganga Path, with subsequent action plans aimed at reducing accidents on these stretches.

Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar assured that the Patna Municipal Corporation will undertake the maintenance of the newly constructed infrastructure, with funding sourced from advertising revenues. Parashar affirmed the corporation’s commitment to ensuring citizen safety through effective maintenance protocols.