Patna: Three of Patna’s key thoroughfares—JP Ganga Path, Atal Path, and the double-decker bridge on Ashok Rajpath—designed to ease traffic congestion, are increasingly becoming sites of frequent road accidents. High-speed driving and disregard for traffic rules have turned several stretches of these VIP roads into deadly zones.
Authorities estimate that 25–30 accidents occur annually on Atal Path and JP Ganga Path alone, resulting in eight to ten deaths and 40–50 injuries. On the double-decker bridge of Ashok Rajpath, accidents are more often caused by motorists driving on the wrong side rather than speed.
The misuse of the double-decker bridge has been a particular concern. Commuters are meant to travel from Gandhi Maidan to Patna University via the upper bridge from Kargil Chowk and return on the lower bridge. Yet many, particularly e-rickshaw and motorcycle riders, ignore the “No Entry” signs near BN College, creating hazardous conditions.
Recent incidents illustrate the severity of the problem. On February 1, a speeding car struck a couple and their children on a motorcycle near LCT Ghat on Ganga Path, killing a seven-year-old girl and injuring three others. On January 4, a businessman’s son died in a collision between a car and a pickup truck on Atal Path. Additional accidents in January and December involved overturned vehicles and fatal collisions, highlighting persistent recklessness on the roads.
Traffic authorities have warned that continued violation of road rules could further escalate the number of accidents and urged commuters to adhere strictly to traffic regulations.
