Panta: From beautifying Gandhi Maidan to the ongo-ing encroachment demolition drive, outgoing divisional commissioner Anand Kishor made a mark on the state capital.
Friday was Kishor's last day in office as divisional commissioner; he has been replaced by Robert L. Chongthu.
Kishor played a pivotal role in changing the traffic culture of Patna; he was the one who took the initiative to make the streetlights, which had remained defunct for almost 20 years, functional.
He put special focus on the iconic Gandhi Maidan and beautifying and maintaining the 62-acre green heart of the state capital. The food court, the green toilet, the high power lights, karate and yoga stage, dedicated open gyms for men and women - all of these were a result of Kishor's initiative.
The work on the morrum pathway to used as a jogging track, installation of chequered red tiles adjacent to the jogging track, installation of 160 wooden and wrought iron benches and 58 designer lights will be completed by next month, and Kishor is the one to thank for it all. His plan of an open theatre at Gandhi Maidan is also there.
Kishor started several new activities at Gandhi Maidan, such as holding festivals for Vasant Utsav, Dussehra Mahotsava and Patang Utsav.
While the events pulled major crowds, many did feel that the push to transform Gandhi Maidan into a town square space was an assault on the pristine green space.
Under Kishor's leadership, the first Patna marathon was held successfully last year, and it is meant to become an annual fixture. Kishor also led the smart city project.
His transfer has raised eyebrows, coming as it did in the middle of a mega encroachment-clearing drive. Kishor, however, said that his transfer had nothing to do with the drive.
"It is normal routine transfer because DM (district magistrate), SP (superintendent of police) and divisional commissioner are not allowed to retain the post for more than three years," he said.
"The main was reason was the Bihar School Examination Board Act of 1952, section 5-A, which clearly says that the chairman shall be appointed as whole-time officer of the board."
Kishor had cancelled the registration of 200 colleges in the capacity of board chairman when topper scam hit headlines two years back.
"Whatever I wanted to do, I just did without any pressure and I am thankful to the government who gave me the opportunity to serve on the post of divisional commissioner for more than three years. It is a big achievement for me," Kishor said.
There was a time when November 6, 1971-born Kishor was looking after four important portfolios. Apart from Patna divisional commissioner he was inspector-general (prison), chairman of BSEB, and director-general (prosecution).
The 1996 batch Bihar-cadres IAS officers hails from Bhojpur district.
He is the third person after Independence to have served as Patna divisional commissioner for more than three years, after Rajesh Gupta (January 2001 to February 2004) and Ravindra Pawar (December 2005 to February 2009).
In the year 2012 six divisional commissioners came and went.
Kishor, who got his first posting as sub-divisional officer of Pakur (now in Jharkhand) in 1998, will remain the BSEB chairman.
The IIT Kanpur alumnus - he holds an MTech in electrical engineering - has also served as district magistrate in Sheikhpur, Nalanda and Muzaffarpur.
