The Patna police traffic cell on Tuesday launched odd-even parking system to regularise vehicular movements in the business hubs of the state capital.
With its launch, the police also identified 19 spots on major roads and roundabouts, where commuters can park their vehicles.
Vehicles parked on the wrong side of the roads will be towed and commuters have to pay fines for the release of the vehicles.
For two-wheelers, the fine will be Rs 345, which is the towing charge of the vehicle and for four-wheelers, the towing charge will be Rs 650.
Patna divisional commissioner Anand Kishor and traffic superintendent of police P.K. Das on Tuesday inaugurated the odd-even parking system at Nala Road - the commercial hub of Patna that witnesses the busiest traffic.
On odd days of the month (such as 1, 3, 5, 7...) commuters at Nala Road have to park their vehicles on the northern side of the road, while on even days (such as 2, 4, 6, 8...), people have to park their vehicles on the southern side of the road.
Anand Kishor said: "The new system will regularise traffic. Earlier, the Nala Road remained choked because of parking on both sides."?
Traffic SP Das said the new system will be of great help in regularising traffic at commercial areas.
"Smoother traffic helps school vans and ambulances ply easily. The new system has been introduced keeping the demands of the business community in the area," he said.
However, soon after the system started several traders at Nala Road looked dissatisfied with the initiative.
Rajeev Kumar of Jauhari Furniture, who had come with fellow businessmen, opposed the new system.
"Business on both sides of the flank will be affected with the odd-even parking system. On odd days, two-wheelers, four-wheelers and transport vehicles will be parked on the northern side. This means restricted flow of customers on such sides, as there will be little space for people to enter the shops. Similarly, even days will block the southern side," said Rajeev.
Santosh Kumar, who owns a furniture shop at Nala Road, said the traffic department must have gone for other alternative arrangement to regularise traffic.
"Patna is an unplanned city with narrow roads and lanes. Areas such as Nala Road, Khetan market, Hathua market, Bari Path, Boring Road, Frazer Road have shops on both sides of the roads. Restricted parking will not succeed in such areas," he said.
However, the traffic department claimed that Patna is not the first city to introduce restricted parking. Chandigarh and Bangalore have odd-even parking system.
Apart from Nala Road, the new system was also introduced at Machuha Toli, Khetan Market, Sabji Bagh and Hathua market (only for two wheelers). Four-wheelers on these stretches will not be allowed to park.
The odd-even parking for only two-wheelers has been introduced at Bari Path, Thakurbari Road, Churi Market Road. Parking spots were identified for other places too.
Commuters near hotel Maurya area can park their vehicles on the southern flank of the road between Maurya and hotel Panache.
People at Biscomaun Towers can park on the eastern side of the building. At Frazer Road, from Swaminandan junction to Dakbungalow roundabout people can park their vehicles on the northern and western flanks of the road.
Sources said the traffic cell of Patna police generates around Rs 7 lakh monthly revenue through fines. With five more towing vans, the traffic department aims to generate around Rs 10 lakh per month. According to sources, on Monday, the traffic cell collected Rs 22,450 as fines from vehicle towing.
