A meeting chaired by Patna Commissioner Rajesh Kumar was held to improve traffic management in Patna on September 1, 2026.
By A Correspondent
Patna: A meeting chaired by Patna Commissioner Rajesh Kumar was held to improve traffic management in Patna and make the city’s roads safer, smoother and better organised. Various aspects of the city’s traffic system were reviewed in detail, with several important directions issued to strengthen traffic management and address congestion.
The District Transport Officer said the steady rise in the number of vehicles and encroachments at various locations were among the major reasons for frequent traffic jams in several parts of the city. The Divisional Commissioner directed officials to ensure that roads are cleared of encroachments and that all buses and auto-rickshaws operating in the city stop only at designated stops.
He ordered strict enforcement of no-parking zones and directed officials to take action against vehicles violating the rules, including seizure where necessary. He also called for an increase in the number of traffic police teams and intensified vehicle-checking drives.
The Commissioner further ordered a complete ban on the operation of unregistered auto-rickshaws and on minors driving auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws. Traffic police officials were instructed to conduct regular checks and take action against violators.
Special focus on congested areas
The review identified Zero Mile Bypass, GPO Roundabout, Patna Junction, Saguna More, Patna City and Kankarbagh among the areas experiencing relatively severe congestion.
A traffic police official said repairing the damaged road at Zero Mile Bypass would significantly improve traffic movement in the area. The Commissioner directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official to ensure that road repair work begins within a week.
He also directed the traffic police to immediately implement route-diversion plans wherever necessary and where diversions could improve traffic flow.
A detailed plan was also ordered to regulate the movement of commercial vehicles on major roads during peak hours and at congestion-prone locations.
Zone-based permits proposed for auto-rickshaws
The meeting also discussed introducing a colour-coded, zone-based permit system for auto-rickshaws. The District Transport Officer said dividing the city into different zones and issuing permits accordingly would make it easier for auto-rickshaw drivers to operate while also helping reduce congestion.
The Commissioner directed officials to develop a mobile app through which auto-rickshaw drivers could apply online for permits to operate on their preferred routes and within their preferred zones. He also ordered that detailed information about the proposed system be widely publicised through newspapers and other media.
He stressed that the convenience and livelihood of auto-rickshaw drivers must be taken into account while implementing the zone-based permit system, allowing them to operate on routes suited to them while ensuring convenient transport for passengers.
Vendors to be shifted to designated vending zones
The Divisional Commissioner directed the Municipal Commissioner to identify and develop vending zones for roadside vendors. Where vending zones already exist, vendors operating on roads should be systematically shifted to these designated areas.
He said the move would provide vendors with organised spaces while reducing encroachments on roads and improving traffic movement.
Recovery of pending fines from 16 lakh challans
The District Transport Officer informed the meeting that fines linked to around 16 lakh traffic challans issued in the district since 2020 remain outstanding.
The Divisional Commissioner directed officials to issue notices to the concerned vehicle owners and ensure recovery of the pending fines. He said that, following due procedure, registration certificates and driving licences of those who fail to pay the fines should also be suspended as per the rules.
The District Transport Officer said vehicles with outstanding challans cannot obtain pollution certificates and cannot be sold until the pending dues are cleared.
Greater traffic police visibility across the city
The Commissioner directed officials to increase the visibility of traffic police across Patna. Adequate personnel should be deployed at major junctions and congestion-prone areas, while the ‘stop and check’ campaign should be conducted effectively.
He also instructed traffic police personnel to avoid using mobile phones while on duty and to perform their responsibilities with alertness and diligence.
The Commissioner said effective traffic management could not be achieved through enforcement alone, but required continuous monitoring, effective enforcement, better route management and coordinated efforts by all concerned departments.
Deputy Development Commissioner Shubham Kumar, Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena, Traffic SP Sagar Kumar, Commissioner’s Secretary Vinay Kumar Thakur, District Transport Officer Upendra Pal and officials from other concerned departments attended the meeting.
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