Patna: Patna traffic superintendent of police (SP) has written a letter to the Patna district magistrate (DM) and the Saran DM to allow trucks to ply over the JP Setu from 11pm to 6m in order to curb traffic snarls over Mahatma Gandhi Setu.

Patna traffic SP P.N. Mishra told The Telegraph: "Yes, I have written a letter to the Patna DM and the Saran DM to allow trucks to ply from 11pm to 6am on the newly constructed JP Setu."

However, there are some bottlenecks to bring the idea to the ground.

Mishra said: "There are some high trees on the Chhapra end of the overbridge and there is also an electric pole. In order to make the idea feasible, we have to prune some trees on the Chhapra side of the overbridge. Again, there is a need to raise the height of the electric pole or shift it to a safer place. Once, these two things are done, trucks can operate on JP Setu."

This would not only ease the traffic at Mahatma Gandhi Setu which is currently going under repair, the move would help smoothen the traffic leading to the Setu.

"As the pontoon bridge made temporarily at Mahatma Gandhi Setu is not feasible for plying of big vehicles, we can certainly chart out this option to ease the traffic load at Mahatma Gandhi Setu," the traffic SP said. Moreover, these pontoon bridges are out of use during monsoon which further increase the load on Mahatma Gandhi Setu.

"I have received a letter from the Saran DM in this regard," said traffic SP Mishra, adding: "The response from the Saran DM's side was positive." The Patna traffic SP had written the letter to both the DMs - Patna and Saran - on April 23.

Traffic SP Mishra had even conducted a spot verification of the JP Setu on April 21 in this regard.

Further, to ease traffic in Patna town, SP Mishra said traffic mitras would be deputed at different localities for smoothening of traffic in their respective areas. As they are acquainted with their localities, they will be able to controlling traffic in their respective areas, the SP said. "Some NGOs are working in this field and we need to co-ordinate with them over the issue," he said.

"We are also working towards filling up vacant posts of traffic personnel so that we can get more force to handle the traffic" the SP added.