Bhubaneswar then, Indore now. Police seem to be in a fix over selecting a city as their model to streamline the unruly traffic in Patna.

Till July, the Patna police were set to visit the Odisha capital to study its traffic signal system and appoint a consultant, who could help introduce the model in the Bihar capital. The plan was described as the first major step towards reinstallation of the defunct signals in Patna, but there was no forward movement. Now, the men in uniform are mulling to recreate the signal system of Indore to bring an end to the perennial traffic trauma.

Senior police officers told The Telegraph that the installation of traffic signals in Patna would be delayed, as they have not received permission from their higher-ups to visit Bhubaneswar. “It is not that Bhubaneswar is out of the radar. The police wanted to go to the city and study the traffic signal system there. The road condition and the traffic in Odisha’s capital are similar to that of Patna. But we have not yet received the permission to go ahead with our plan. We had a talk with the district magistrate yesterday (Saturday) in connection with the proposal. We will appoint a consultant for the task. However, the traffic system of Indore will also be studied. The process to re-install the signals in Patna will take time because it has to be perfect,” Patna traffic superintendent of police Chandrika Prasad told The Telegraph.

The officer added that the procedure of choosing a consultant could begin only after studies of the traffic management systems of the two cities were completed. In July, the police had said they would appoint a consultant to help revamp the traffic signal system in the capital. “There has been no decision about any consultant. There are many engaged in the job and we want to hire the best, who can conduct a systematic study of the traffic scene in Patna and come up with some concrete ideas about re-installation of the signals. The consultant will be either from Indore or Bhubaneswar,” Prasad said.

In July, the officer had said a team of cops would visit Bhubaneswar and study the traffic system there. It was stated that the signal installation process in Patna would begin by August-end. The police had said experts from Odi-sha would be invited to Patna to conduct a survey and point out the problem areas.

Sources said since last year, there have been talks about the re-installation process. Earlier, the police had said manual signals, like those in Calcutta, would be set up because the electronic signals were not suited for Patna. Later, it was decided that electronic signals would come up and a team of cops would visit Bhubaneswar. Now, Indore is under considered.

The plan of setting up CCTV cameras in at least four roundabouts in Patna also hangs in the balance. “Talks on the CCTV cameras have been on since last year and a city-based company has been awarded the project. But till now, no roundabout has seen any camera,” a police officer said.

Plan

In July, Patna police planned to visit Bhubaneswar to study traffic signal
system and appoint a consultant, who could help introduce it in Bihar capital

Ground reality

Plan has not taken a step forward

Bump ahead

Senior officers say installation of traffic signals in Patna would be delayed, as they did not get permission from higher ups to visit Bhubaneswar

Option

Police planning to study traffic signal system in Indore