Construction of Patna Metro should not become a nuisance for the public, traffic on Bailey Road must keep moving at all costs: Chief Minister

Patna, August 1 (ABN): Chief Minister Smarat Choudhary has said that the Patna Metro is an important project for the development of the state capital and the modern urban transport system, but during its construction, citizens should not face any unnecessary inconvenience. He clarified that the flow of traffic on Nehru Path (Baily Road) should be maintained at all costs and wherever necessary, roads should be widened immediately to create alternative routes so that the daily commute of millions of citizens is not affected.

The Chief Minister gave these instructions while reviewing the works of the Road Construction Department and major infrastructure projects at the "Sankalp" auditorium located in the Public Lok Seva Bhavan on Saturday. The meeting discussed the increasing traffic pressure on Baily Road due to the construction of Patna Metro, alternative routes, and future traffic strategy in detail.

During the meeting, Secretary of the Road Construction Department Pankaj Kumar Pal and Managing Director of Patna Metro Rail Corporation Sandeep Kumar AR Poddar informed the Chief Minister that 11 alternative routes have been identified to reduce traffic pressure on Nehru Path. After a technical examination of these routes, work will be done to increase the width of the roads where necessary, rebuild junctions, remove encroachments, and provide other basic facilities.

Smarat Choudhary directed the concerned officials to not just limit themselves to planning, but to conduct a ground survey of all routes immediately and take practical steps according to the needs of each location. He said that development projects are for the convenience of the public, so it is the primary responsibility of the government to save citizens from traffic jams, long waits, and unnecessary difficulties during construction work.

The Chief Minister said that Patna Metro will bring a revolutionary change in the public transport system of the capital in the future, but effective traffic management is essential during this period. He directed the Road Construction Department, Patna Metro Rail Corporation, district administration, municipal corporation, and traffic police to establish a strong connection and prepare a comprehensive action plan jointly and ensure its speedy implementation.

He also emphasized that where there is a fear of affecting traffic flow due to metro construction, alternative routes should be arranged in advance and the public should be provided with proper guidance. He said that traffic is also affected due to unorganized business activities on the sides of the roads, so proper vending zones should be established on Baily Road so that street vendors, cart vendors, and small businessmen can continue their livelihood in an organized manner and traffic flow is not affected.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to continuously review the traffic situation and adopt new strategies as needed so that construction work and public convenience can move forward together. He said that the government's goal is not just to complete development projects, but to provide maximum convenience to the public during these projects.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, Secretary of the Road Construction Department Pankaj Kumar Pal, Chief Minister's Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Department and Managing Director of Patna Metro Rail Corporation Sandeep Kumar AR Poddar, Chief Minister's Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, District Magistrate Kandan Kumar, Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena, Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K Sharma, and other senior officials.