Ranchi’s Durga Puja traffic plan came into force on Wednesday, October 14, with police introducing 44 barricades, 23 designated parking areas and multiple diversions to manage crowd movement near pandals and other public places. The arrangements will remain in place until October 21, according to SP (Traffic) Rakesh Ranjan.
The plan includes entry restrictions for large vehicles, which will not be allowed to enter Ranchi between 8am and 4am the following day. Police have also installed drop gates and barriers at 17 locations on the city’s outskirts to regulate traffic entering Ranchi during the festival period.
Within the city, restrictions will apply from 3.30pm to 3am, covering the evening and night hours when movement towards puja venues is expected to be highest. During this period, private vehicles, autorickshaws and small goods carriers will not be allowed to travel from Kutchery Chowk towards Saheed Chowk, Firayalal Chowk and Sujata Chowk.
Traffic travelling from Piska More towards New Market will be diverted through Meenakshi Cinema Road, Pahari Mandir and Kishoreganj Chowk to Harmu. Four-wheelers travelling from Harmu towards Ratu will be stopped at Kishoreganj Chowk. Two-wheelers will instead be routed through Pahari Mandir, Meenakshi Cinema Road and Ratu More to Piska More.
Small vehicles will not be permitted on Main Road or on the New Market Chowk–Kishoreganj stretch during the restricted hours. Small four-wheelers travelling from the BJP office will be diverted through Peper Toli and Kathal More to Piska More.
Other restrictions have been introduced on several approach roads. Vehicles travelling from Kanke Road towards Kutchery Chowk will be routed through Zakir Hussain Park, while vehicles coming from Lalpur will be allowed only up to the JPSC office. Traffic from Bariatu Road towards Albert Ekka Chowk can travel up to Ramgarh trekker stand, and vehicles from Dangratoli Chowk towards Sarjana Chowk will be restricted up to Mission Chowk.
The Kokar–Lalpur Road has been made one-way for traffic moving from Lalpur towards Kokar. Vehicles travelling in the opposite direction will be diverted through Kantatoli. Police have advised devotees to avoid using four-wheelers wherever possible to reduce congestion around puja venues.
The arrangements are intended to keep approach roads to major pandals clear during peak evening hours. The restrictions, diversions and parking provisions will remain operational through October 21, after which traffic movement will be governed by the next police announcement.
