Ranchi: Durga Puja traffic plan came into force in the city on Wednesday, with police imposing diversions, entry restrictions and designated parking arrangements to manage the crowds expected at pandals and other public places.SP (traffic) Rakesh Ranjan said the arrangements would remain in place till Oct 21. Police have installed 44 barricades and identified 23 parking areas. Devotees have been advised to avoid using four-wheelers wherever possible to minimise congestion near puja venues.Large vehicles will not be allowed to enter Ranchi between 8am and 4am the following day. Drop gates and barriers have been installed at 17 locations on the outskirts to regulate traffic entering the city.Within the city, restrictions will remain in force from 3.30pm to 3am. 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.Vehicles 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, while two-wheelers will be routed through Pahari Mandir, Meenakshi Cinema Road and Ratu More to Piska More.Small vehicles will not be allowed on Main Road or the New Market Chowk-Kishoreganj stretch during the restricted hours. Small four-wheelers from the BJP office will be diverted through Peper Toli and Kathal More to Piska More.Vehicles travelling from Kanke Road towards Kutchery Chowk will be routed through Zakir Hussain Park. Those coming from Lalpur will be allowed only up to the JPSC office. Vehicles from Bariatu Road towards Albert Ekka Chowk can travel up to Ramgarh trekker stand, while those from Dangratoli Chowk towards Sarjana Chowk will be restricted up to Mission Chowk.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 said the arrangements aim to keep approach roads to major pandals clear during peak evening hours.
