Patna, April 19: Sticklers for punctuality are carrying their newspapers to office.

The reason: They have to leave early for their destinations to avoid traffic jams. Even a delay of minutes can hold them up in traffic snarls that start again from the next turn. Also, if they get stuck in a traffic jam, they get ample time to scan through the news pages, at times read the editorials too.

Travelling on thoroughfares such as Ashok Rajpath, Patna Junction roundabout, Machuatoli main road, Rajabazaar and Karbighaiya Road during “rush hours” is like negotiating through a complicated maze.

“The traffic will drive you insane. It is impossible to come out of Ashok Rajpath smoothly in the afternoon and in the evening,” Kundan Singh, a commuter, told The Telegraph.

He added: “Patna Medical College and Hospital, as well as a number of academic institutes, are on this road. But nothing has been done to improve the traffic condition.”

Sources said the problem is that despite being such an important artery of the city, the road is too narrow. Illegal encroachment has made it even narrower.

“The pavement on the right side of Ashok Rajpath is encroached by hawkers who sell inexpensive garments. This forces the pedestrians to walk on the road, slowing down the traffic movement even further,” said Kundan, a shopkeeper.

He added: “The traffic constables try hard but it is impossible for them to clear the congestion. The condition only worsens when you cross the Pirbhore police station. Cycle rickshaws are parked on both sides of the road. A part of the road is also being used for dumping garbage. For commuters, it is a nightmare.”

In an effort to reduce the traffic load on Ashok Rajpath, the police enforced a regulation according to which autorickshaws were allowed to go only towards Patna City through this road. But even that has not been very effective in sorting the traffic mess as the parallel Machuatoli main road is another big challenge for commuters.

The road that connects Patna City with Patna is so congested for most of the day that even a mouse would be reluctant to tread on it. But Patna residents are not lucky enough. They have to negotiate the maddening traffic on the road everyday.

“Makeshift stalls encroach both sides of the road. Rickshaws, too, block a major portion of it. Driving on it is a hassle. A rogue four-wheeler can lead to a horrific accident any day,” said Animesh Kumar, a resident of the area. Animesh added: “Most of the time, there are no traffic policemen to man the road. Autorickshaw drivers, too, throw all caution to the wind and drive as they please. This makes the road very dangerous.” Around 3km from Machuatoli main road is Station Road, another clog zone of the capital.

“The police and the administration are not bothered in the least. Recently, they created a diversion for traffic moving towards the railway station. But this move has only marginally improved the situation. Hundreds of autorickshaws are parked 24x7 on both sides of the roundabout. But the police do nothing about it. Once these autorickshaws are cleared, there will be more space,” said Subi Das, a shopkeeper in the area.

Sources said all roads leading to the station are usually clogged. “Be it the road coming to the station from the Chiriyatand Bridge or from the R-Block, the condition on each of them is the same. They are blocked throughout the day because of auto and bus movement,” said Ranjan Sharma, a daily commuter.

He added: “The police deployed here do nothing to ease the commotion.”

Commuters and residents said the need of the hour was prompt action from the police and the administration.

The police, meanwhile, are planning to go hi-tech to sort out the traffic jumble. But they say commuters will have to chip in as well. “We are trying to free the roads of traffic jams. Motorists, too, should realise if they follow the traffic rules, 90 per cent of the problems will be solved at once,” a traffic police officer said.