Avoid taking Bailey Road during the daytime on Thursday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi touches down in Patna to take part in the 350th birth anniversary celebration of Guru Gobind Singh at Gandhi Maidan.

The entire stretch from Patna airport to Gandhi Maidan will be closed for all traffic at least 20 minutes before Modi lands in Patna at 11.55am. The same traffic plan will be in force 20 minutes before he leaves for Patna airport around 2.15pm from Gandhi Maidan.

As far as traffic diversions are concerned, the stretch from Dumra Chowk to Hartali Mor on Bailey Road will be closed for which motorists are advised to take alternative routes. Similarly, roads or by-lanes entering Bailey Road will be closed at the Punaichak area, the Secretariat roundabout, Beer Chand Patel Marg, the road coming from Kidwaipuri area at Income Tax roundabout, and the Dakbungalow roundabout to the JP roundabout area near hotel Maurya.

As per traffic police, the minute-to-minute schedule of the Prime Minister's visit to Patna based on direction of the PMO states that he will reach Patna airport by a special plane at 11.55am. He will reach Gandhi Maidan via road at 12.15noon. From 12.15 to 2.10pm, Modi will be in Gandhi Maidan to take part in a kirtan being held at Durbar Hall and will leave for Patna airport around 2.15pm.

Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj said: "The Bailey Road will remain closed till the Prime Minister's cavalcade enters Gandhi Maidan. The roads will be opened thereafter. Similarly, the road will be closed again 20 minutes before the programme at Gandhi Maidan ends. Once the PM's cavalcade reaches the state hangar at the airport, the traffic will be opened again."

For the PM's visit, apart from traffic restrictions, elaborate security arrangements have been made, naturally.

The Gandhi Maidan area has been closed for common people. Rakesh Dubey ASP (headquarters), said: "The Gandhi Maidan area has been closed for the common people and for visitors from 3pm on Wednesday to 3pm on Thursday. The entire area has been sanitised and the ground has been handed over to the Special Protection Group (SPG)."

The Patna police on Wednesday conducted mock drills as part of the PM's visit. Due to the mock drill and the nagar kirtan (religious procession) taken out from Gandhi Maidan to Patna Sahib Gurdwara, the city witnessed chaotic traffic situations.

Due to blockades at different places, several roads witnessed snarls.

The biggest problem was at roads leading to Gandhi Maidan. Due to the nagar kirtan procession, several roads such as ones from Dakbungalow roundabout passing through Fraser Road, Police Lines, Chajjubagh and Kargil Chowk were blocked.

The entire stretch of Ashok Rajpath from Kargil Chowk to Patna Sahib gurdwara - a distance of nearly 11km was blocked. No vehicles from different by-lanes were allowed to enter Ashok Rajpath.

Only emergency vehicles such as ambulances were allowed to enter Ashok Rajpath when the nagar kirtan passed from the route. Many commuters had to face problems. Vijay Rai, who was spotted at Dakbungalow square, said: "I had to go to the Kidwaipuri area, but the road has been closed for more than 45 minutes due to the mock dill for the PM's visit."