Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter the city after 10pm on October 26 owing to the Hunkar Rally the next day.

The rally — which the BJP claims will the largest ever — is expected to attract of a lot of people on Sunday (October 27). The police are planning a slew of measures to prevent unnecessary snarls on the city roads that day. “Though we cannot give an exact number, a lot of people are expected to come to Patna from the districts on Sunday. As the streets will be chock-a-block with people, we don’t want buses and trucks on the road. Heavily vehicles can easily create a major snarl,” said a police officer.

He added: “We are still planning on what measures will be taken. These will be announced within a day or two.”

Managing large crowds of supporters of political parties is not new for Patna police. In the recent past, they have dealt with mega rallies of both JD(U) and RJD. (See graphic)

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday demanded a ban on the plying of heavy vehicles on bridges leading to Patna from October 26 to ensure there are no traffic snarls in the city on the day of the rally. Modi said the government should decide on alternative routes for such vehicles. He added that the government was duty bound to ensure hassle-free traffic.

For Hunkar Rally, all police stations in the city will be on high alert. “As it will be a Sunday, the streets will not have the regular flow of traffic. That’s a relief. We shall also not allow heavy vehicles to enter Patna,” said the police officer.

Private cars would also be allowed restricted access to the city streets.

Confirming the traffic restrictions on cards, deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) Arun Kumar Sinha told The Telegraph: “People taking part in the rally will start coming to the city. Most of them will come on Saturday. The roads leading to the city will be chock-a-block. So, there will be a number of diversions and heavy vehicles will not be allowed into the city.”

Sinha said smaller vehicles will also be allowed up to certain points in the city, adding: “Beyond a certain point, people will have to walk to Gandhi Maidan. For instance, there will be diversions at Zero Mile towards Bypass Road. Some roads in the city, too, will have diversions; others will be one-way to help regular commuters.”

Sinha said there would also be 15 parking spots at different places on the periphery of the city for the vehicles of BJP supporters. “Some of the spots we have decided upon are Saguna Mor, Mithapur bus stand, Veterinary College ground, Patliputra Stadium and Kankerbagh Stadium.”

Early plan

Recent rallies

Adhikar Rally
Organiser: JD(U)
Date: Nov. 4, 2012

Parivartan Rally
Organiser: RJD
Date: May 15, 2013

Cop steps

Heavy vehicles prohibited to enter
Small vehicles allowed only up to certain points
Diversions