MD. JAMIL AHMAD Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) With the help of this Public Interest Litigation, petitioners seek directions to the respondent authorities to permit auto rickshaw/tempo to run on Ashok Rajpath eastward from Gaighat to Patna as permitted prior to introduction of new traffic plan in August, 2014. The diversion of the route has, according to the petitioners, caused immense difficulties to the residents of Patna city including school/college students.

(2.) Before we proceed to examine the matter, it would be necessary to notice the circumstances leading to the new traffic plan.

(3.) According to the respondents, prior to implementation of new traffic plan in the year, 2014, there was free movement of vehicular traffic on Gandhi Maidan and Patna city route through Ashok Rajpath and Mahendru. The route was narrow at a number of points, which caused traffic jam, and, on some occasions, even created law and order problem. In order to meet the heavy load of traffic, causing blockage, jam, etc., on Gandhi Maidan, Patna City, Gaighat route, through Ashok Rajpath, and to provide smooth vehicular movement, the then Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Patna, prepared one way traffic arrangement plan and forwarded the resolution to the District Magistrate, Patna, vide Office Letter No.1426/C, dated 09.08.2014. Whereas, westward movement of vehicles including tempo/auto rickshaw are allowed to ply as before from Gandhi Maidan to Patna City through Ashok Rajpath, the route of these vehicles, while travelling eastward from Patna city to Gandhi Maidan has been changed and diverted. As per the new plan, the movement of auto, tempo, buses, etc., from east to west, i.e., Patna City to Gandih Maidan, are diverted through Danka Imli, Biskomaun, Sandalpur, Dargah Road, Sahganj, Musallahpur Hatt, Bhikhna Pahari, Naya Tola, Machuatoli, Govind Mitra Road, Langar Toli, Dariyapur Gola Road, Hathwa Market, Thakurbari, Bakarganj and Gandhi Maidan.