Many senior IAS officials residing in the officers' bungalows in front of Patna Zoo have put up iron pillars in front of most of the colony entrances, cutting the colony off from the northern side.

The resulting encroachment is creating a lot of inconvenience, said other residents. The state building construction department constructed the pillars.

The officials said they put up the iron pillars to keep away rash motorcycle riders.

"The IAS officials have put up iron pillars to cordon off the area, as if the roads are their private property," said Sonu Kumar, a shopkeeper near Shashtri Nagar Hospital. "Now, we have to take a detour that requires us to cover more distance to reach Bailey Road. They are misusing power. We are living in this area for several decades and there has never been any problem as rash bikers. I don't know why these officials suddenly have a problem."

The bureaucrats, on the other hand, said the roads inside the officers' colony were not meant for public use.

"R oads constructed by the road construction department, Patna Municipal Corporation or any other government agency, are meant for public use," said a senior IAS officer who is a resident of the colony. "But the roads developed by the department for colonies, as in this case, are meant to be used by residents of the colony only. We have blocked only five streets. The common roads along the periphery of the colony remain open, and can be used by other people."

The official added: "Incidents of rash biking are quite common in this colony as the roads are in good condition. I had a close shave one day when one of these bikers zoomed past me . Around 10 of us held a meeting last month and decided to put up small pillars to stop the bikers."

Other residents did not agree with the official's claims. "What if an ambulance needs to come to this area in a hurry?" said Suraj Prasad, a roadside eatery owner in Rajvanshi Nagar. "It may not know about the pillars. It will keep wandering around the colony trying to find an open road. Besides, people working in the officials' quarters are facing hassles too."

A few hotels and schools in Patliputra area have also blocked some area around their premises to park vehicles.

Residents complained of inconvenience because of the encroachment. "This road remains blocked by vehicles most of the time," said Anil Kumar, a driver working for a Vivekanand Mandir Marg resident in Patliputra.