The high court on Thursday expressed its displeasure over the chaotic traffic system and increasing pollution level in Patna and asked the government to explain what it plans to do to address these problems.

The government has four weeks to explain what it intends to do in the future to streamline and de-congest the traffic system in the city.

The division bench of Justice Navin Sinha and Justice Shailesh Kumar Sinha asked additional advocate-general Gautam Bose to hold a meeting with the officials concerned to find a solution to traffic jams and pollution and tell the court by November 18 whether or not the government would be able to do it.

The bench also made it clear that if government expresses its inability to address the issue, it (the court) would “close the file (case)” saying that the government and the police are unable to control the traffic system.

The court passed the direction on a PIL filed by Sanjay Singh seeking direction to the government.

During the hearing, the court expressed its anguish over the prevailing chaotic traffic system. It observed that snarls had become the order of the day, with vendors blocking roads, vehicles parked anywhere and traffic signals not working. The court also mentioned Banwari Singh who was Patna superintendent of police (traffic) in the 1980s and whose very presence on the road was enough to streamline traffic. “Where have such officers gone?” asked the court.

On July 18, the last hearing, the court had said: “It is unfortunate that court orders are required for discharging of routine administrative duties. But the respondents (government and its agencies) appear to be having an attitude of responding to statutory and public duties after queries by the court only.”

The bench had sought a detailed and specific affidavit from the government to respond to a host of queries pertaining to regulation of traffic. The court asked what steps the government had taken to check drunken driving, underage driving, speeding, use of breath analysers and whether or not the government has speed guns. The government was also asked to state its viewpoint vis-à-vis installation of CNG in commercial vehicles in the state.

Police atrocity

The division bench also took suo motu cognisance of a media report about police atrocities on a mentally challenged person who was allegedly tied up by Government Railway Police personnel and thrashed at Purnea Junction on October 20. The bench directed Rail SP (Katihar), and Purnea’s SP, civil surgeon and medical officer to appear in person on October 28 to explain their stand.