DC: Overloaded, illegal vehicles to face music

Patna: Divisional commissioner (DC) Mayank Warwade, while addressing a meeting of officers and representatives of autorickshaw and e-rickshaw associations on Thursday, stressed the need for regular and special drives against overloading and illegal vehicles to ease the city's persistent traffic congestion.
Warwade said that the unprecedented increase in the number of vehicles was exacerbating traffic congestion and road accidents, necessitating improved traffic control and management. "Patna is not only the state capital but also acts as the gateway for eastern and north-eastern India. Hence, a high-technology-based traffic management system is the need of the hour to ensure smooth traffic flow, commuter safety, economic development and an improved standard of living for residents," he said.
The divisional commissioner highlighted the importance of signages, zebra crossings and reducing unnecessary road cuts for safer and more efficient traffic movement. "Regular anti-encroachment drives to eliminate public nuisance should be carried out by the enforcement agencies, which must remain proactive and ensure compliance with rules and regulations. No-parking and no-vending zones should be clearly marked and strict action should be taken against violators," Warwade said.
Discussions also covered measures such as multi-level parking, designated auto-parking spaces, consideration of no-entry zones, road widening, identifying causes of congestion and accidents, designating public parking spaces, removing encroachments and installing additional CCTV cameras.
Warwade stressed the need to effectively utilise the more than 3,300 CCTV cameras already installed at 415 locations across the city to identify traffic violators. He also discussed traffic management solutions to address chronic congestion at key locations, including the railway station, Kargil roundabout, Rajendra Nagar Terminal Station, Sipara Bridge, Raja Bazaar, Bairiya, Ashok Rajpath and Nehru Path flyover.