Patna: Durga Puja brought huge crowds to the streets of Patna, but along with the joy of the festival came a wave of traffic violations. In just two days, the traffic police collected more than Rs 61 lakh in fines from people who ignored the rules while rushing to puja pandals. Despite repeated appeals and a special traffic plan with diversions, many drivers broke the rules on Saptami and Ashtami, two of the busiest days of the celebrations.
The largest number of violations was recorded in the Ramnagari area, where fines of several lakhs were collected. On Saptami, September 29, devotees filled the roads from Gandhi Maidan to Didarganj. Cameras captured vehicles entering no-entry zones, people riding without helmets, and cars parked in restricted areas. That day alone, fines worth over Rs 21 lakh were issued, with Ramnagari, Didarganj, Khagaul and Rupaspur among the worst-affected spots.
The next day, Ashtami, saw even stricter checks, but the rule-breaking continued. This time fines crossed Rs 40 lakh in just one day. Many drivers were caught driving without number plates, permits or safety gear. In Ramnagari alone, fines worth more than Rs 5.5 lakh were imposed, while other areas such as Rupaspur, Kurji Mor, Jagdev Path and Dinkar Golambar also saw large numbers of violations. Police said these areas had the heaviest congestion and the highest disregard for rules.
Patna Smart City’s Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) kept watch over the entire city through thousands of CCTV cameras. Challans were issued based on digital evidence, and in some cases, spot fines were collected and vehicles seized. Officials admitted that managing traffic during the festival was difficult, but stressed that action was taken without sparing any violators. They urged devotees to respect traffic rules in the coming days so that the festive spirit is not spoiled by accidents or chaos.
The traffic department has announced that surveillance will be further tightened for the rest of Navratri. With more crowds expected during the remaining puja days, police have warned that strict action will continue to ensure safety on the roads.
