The Telegraph report published on March 12, 2011

Patna, March 13: Taking serious note of The Telegraph reports on some traffic constables harassing autorickshaw drivers for bribes, the police top brass has decided to take strict action against the errant traffic constables. Plans are also afoot to end the traffic mess near Patna Junction because of auto drivers.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Alok Kumar said strict action would be taken against the traffic constables demanding bribe from auto drivers.

Kumar told The Telegraph: “We are very serious about taking action against the policemen indulging in taking bribe. The police will not tolerate this. The senior officers have been briefed on what to do.” On March 11, The Telegraph had reported an autorickshaw driver’s self-immolation attempt following repeated demand of bribe by traffic constables. The auto driver, Sanjay Kumar, had said he had to fork out Rs 400 on three separate occasions in a week as “tax” or hafta to the men-in-uniform, mainly those manning the chaotic traffic near the Patna Junction railway station. On March 12, The Telegraph had carried a report in which autorickshaw drivers claimed they were at the mercy of traffic constables. The bribe could buy them the permit to park their vehicles at will near Patna Junction, triggering traffic mess.

Taking note of it, the SSP went to the station area yesterday with a team and spent two hours to fathom the nature of problem and chalk out possible solutions to it.

“As an immediate step, a crane will be stationed near the station for towing away vehicles from no-parking areas. As illegal parking of autorickshaws is the root of the traffic chaos near the station, we are contemplating a permanent lane for the three-wheelers,” the SSP said today.

Some diversions would also be introduced in the roads leading to the station to ease the volume of traffic near the station roundabout. “There will be some diversions in the road to the station from Veena cinema,” the SSP said.

Kumar said: “There are also some plans on the rickshaws and stalls lined up near the station. We will start off with the experimental implementation of our plans from tomorrow and see if they are working. If not, we will think about something else.”

Senior police officers said the auto stand at Gandhi Maidan could see decimation with proper space being created for parking of the autorickshaws.