Administration sets deadlines to keep main mela route trafficable
The Gaya district administration has moved to clear bottlenecks on the main Pitripaksh mela route, ordering immediate repairs to roads and drains and a drive against stray cattle to ensure smooth movement for pilgrims expected from across India and neighbouring Nepal.
District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar inspected stretches from Nadraganj through Ramsagar to Chand Chauraha on Tuesday and identified multiple problem spots. Officials reported scattered pebbles near the Zila School area beside the collectorate, persistent waterlogging close to Ramsagar Surya Temple and unfinished drain work near Sudha Parlour at Chand Chauraha.
- Immediate removals: Stone pebbles on the road adjacent to the collectorate were ordered cleared at once.
- Drain cleaning and levelling: The DM directed the use of earth movers and super-suction machines to clear drains at Nadraganj within four days.
- Completion of works: Incomplete drain construction near Sudha Parlour must be finished by Sept 10; all other levelling and bitumen work on the route was to be completed ahead of the mela start on Sept 25.
Shubhankar instructed the municipal commissioner, Gagan Kumar, to coordinate with Gaya Municipal Corporation and BUIDCO engineers and to avoid unnecessary road digging during the mela period. Road construction department officials were asked to level both sides of key stretches between the collectorate, Nadraganj and Ramsagar and to carry out bitumen work where required.
"Complete road, drainage, sanitation and other basic infrastructure works before Sept 25 to ensure smooth movement and adequate facilities for pilgrims," the DM directed, according to the inspection briefing.
The administration flagged accumulated water at several points along the route that require immediate levelling and drain cleaning. Officials said concentrated efforts will use heavy machinery for rapid clearance in waterlogging-prone pockets.
Along with civil works, the DM asked municipal teams to intensify drives against stray cattle in the mela area, a perennial concern that disrupts traffic and endangers pilgrims and animals alike. The order reflects wider preparations as the Pitripaksh mela, a major ritual congregation where devotees perform pinddaan and shraddh, is due to attract large numbers from Bihar and neighbouring states.
| Work | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Drain cleaning | Nadraganj | Within 4 days |
| Drain construction completion | Sudha Parlour, Chand Chauraha | By Sept 10 |
| All road levelling/bitumen work | Collectorate–Nadraganj–Ramsagar stretches | Before Sept 25 |
Local traders, panda groups and dharamshalas preparing for the mela depend on predictable road access and functioning sanitation. Officials said the administration has already identified mela zones and will co-ordinate with police, health and civic departments to ensure basic services are in place.
The DM's inspection and orders come at a time when neighbouring-country pilgrims—particularly from Nepal—also figure in overall preparations for Pitripaksh. While other agencies make accommodation and facility arrangements, the district's focus on drainage and road repairs aims to reduce travel delays and manage crowd movement once the mela begins on Sept 25 and continues until Oct 10.
Gaya's civic machinery now faces a tight timeline to implement the DM's directions. Successful completion will be measured by whether key stretches are levelled, drains cleared and stray cattle removed before the influx peaks later this month.
