Patna: The Patna administration has indefinitely postponed the planned traffic restrictions on Bailey Road that were scheduled to come into effect from today to facilitate construction of the Patna Metro.
Officials said the decision was taken in view of the monsoon season, with the aim of avoiding severe traffic congestion and inconvenience for commuters on one of the city’s busiest arterial roads.
Lane Closure Deferred
Under the original plan, one lane of Bailey Road was to be closed from Saturday to allow underground metro construction to progress.
However, authorities have decided to postpone the restrictions and continue ongoing metro work without disrupting the existing flow of traffic.
According to the traffic administration, construction is currently underway at five locations between Income Tax Golambar and Patna Zoo.
Although barricades have been erected around the work sites, vehicles continue to move in both directions.
Officials said closing one lane during the rainy season would have diverted traffic onto several adjoining roads, significantly increasing congestion across the city.
Underground Metro Work To Continue
Authorities said priority will now be given to completing metro construction activities that are already in their final stages before imposing major traffic restrictions for underground work.
The underground section of the corridor along Bailey Road will be taken up later, with revised traffic arrangements to be announced before construction reaches that stage.
Earlier Traffic Plan
The administration had proposed restricting the movement of buses, auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws for three years on the stretch between Zoo Gate No. 1 and Income Tax Golambar.
The restrictions were to be introduced in phases, beginning with the section between Zoo Gate No. 1 and Vikas Bhawan before extending towards Income Tax Golambar.
A trial run scheduled for June 21 and 22 had already been postponed because of the NEET examination, with several examination centres located along Bailey Road.
The original plan also included a one-way traffic system for private vehicles between Patel Bhawan and Vikas Bhawan, along with alternative routes for public transport.
Officials estimate that between 150,000 and 200,000 vehicles use Bailey Road every day, including more than 5,000 auto-rickshaws, around 1,000 e-rickshaws and over 60 buses.
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Underground Corridor Work Ahead
The Bailey Road section forms part of the Patna Metro’s planned 8.5-kilometre underground corridor between Patna Junction and Patliputra station.
Construction will involve building a launching shaft near the zoo before lowering four tunnel boring machines into the ground, a process currently expected to begin in November.
Two of the machines will excavate tunnels towards Patna Junction, while the remaining two will bore towards Rukanpura.
The project also includes the construction of five underground metro stations along Bailey Road at Vidyut Bhawan, Vikas Bhawan, the Zoo, Rajabazar and Rukanpura, as well as a ramp linking the underground corridor to the elevated metro line near Patliputra station.
Officials said fresh traffic arrangements would be announced before work requiring major road closures begins.
