Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation has decided to take strict action against contractors and agencies that dig city roads without permission. Residents often face trouble as roads are dug up in the name of laying pipes or fixing cables, leading to traffic jams and accidents. Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar has said that during the festive season no road can be dug without permission and protective measures must be taken at every site.
A new helpline number – 155304 – has also been issued for the public. Citizens can call and complain if they see unsafe pits or unauthorised digging anywhere in the city. The commissioner said many complaints were received during the Har Din Har Gali campaign review, where it was found that roads had been dug up and left open in different areas.
He instructed that wherever work is taking place, barricades and warning signs must be placed to protect the public. Agencies have also been asked to complete their work on time and repair the roads once the job is finished. If this is not done, immediate legal action will follow.
Officials from Budco and the municipal corporation have been told to regularly monitor work and submit reports. The commissioner warned that with festivals bringing heavy traffic, open pits and careless road digging could become dangerous. He stressed that no negligence would be tolerated in ensuring safety.
