Chiraiyatand bridge. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Traffic police are taking calculated steps to ensure that there is little snarl when the northern flank of the Chiraiyatand bridge is closed in order to build an approach road leading to the under-construction flyover along the busy Exhibition Road.

Patna city SP Prantosh Kumar Das, who also holds the additional charge of traffic SP, said they were not hurrying with the closure and it might take at least four to five days considering the fact that the commuters have easy access to the alternative routes while moving towards areas like Rajendra Nagar or Kankerbagh from Gandhi Maidan, Fraser Road etc.

The officer said once the flank is closed, it would re-open again only by April next year when the flyover, being constructed by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam, is complete and is handed over for use to the people.

The flyover, once complete, is expected to make vehicular movement towards Rajendra Nagar easier as motorists can just climb up the flyover near the Ram Goolam Chowk off Gandhi Maidan and reach Rajender Nagar without having to use the Exhibition Road.

“We need to identify the alternative routes, which will be used by the commuters when the northern flank is closed. There has to be a perfect traffic system in place so that people do not encounter traffic jams. The police are working on it at present and encroachments under the bridge is being removed. The Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam wanted to shut the Exhibition Road flank leading to the bridge by November 8. However, we need some more time for preparations. We need to have a concrete plan and alternative routes ready as once shut down, the closure will continue until April next year. We do hope that we would be ready for it in the coming four to five days. The delay is only to ensure that commuters do not feel any kind of pressure,” he said.

The officer added that before the closure, people would be informed in advance. “The police will come up with advertisements in newspapers and announcements and messages on television and radio telling people the day when the part of the bridge will close,” Das added.

The flyover can be said to be an extension of the Chiraiyatand bridge.

The Nigam needs at least 300 metres of the northern end of the bridge to construct an approach. The other ends of the bridge will face no such closures and will function normally. Once the closure is into effect, no vehicles will be allowed to move from the Exhibition Road on the bridge. People wishing to move towards the CDA Building, which lies towards the left of the bridge near the Exhibition Road roundabout, will be using Bhattacharya Road, located towards the left of the roundabout.

“Bhattacharya Road will be a busy stretch in times to come due to the closure. In addition, those willing to go to Patna Junction from Exhibition Road roundabout will have to take the Jamaal Road. Also, anyone wishing to come to Exhibition Road roundabout from Patna Junction will have to take Jamaal Road,” another police officer said.

The city SP added that the concern lied in both these roads. “Both Jamaal Road and Bhattacharya Road are quite narrow and heavy vehicular movements could result in snarls. We are clearing off the encroachments and also ensuring that the roads are in good health and ditches and manholes are covered,” Das said.

Motorists, however, said that problems were just starting. “Maybe they are planning but most of the people don’t follow traffic rules here. I live in the Rajendra Nagar area and work at Fraser Road. I am definitely very worried,” S.R. Dubey, who works in a bank, said.