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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Ahead of Pitripaksh Mela, pandas flag traffic chaos, poor sanitation
Gaya: With less than four weeks left for Pitripaksh Mela, Gayawal Pandas want measures like encroachment removal and ban on stray cattle in the entire city to make the event more convenient for the visiting pilgrims. Several lakh pilgrims from all over the country and abroad are expected to perform the ritual for the salvation of souls of their ancestors during the fortnight-long mela. Shambhu Lal Bithal, president of Vishnupad Prabandh Karini Samiti, told TOI that encroachment, poor sanitation, stray cattle and shortage of proper accommodation for the pilgrims remain the main challenge before the mela machinery. In the past, incidents of injury including fracture caused to pilgrims, hit by stray cattle have taken place. According to him, more than 10 ft width of the road between Nai Sadak and Ramsagar in the mela area has been encroached and no serious attempt made to clear it. Piecemeal anti-encroachment drive is not going to serve the purpose. Overflowing drains in the Nawagadhi locality are another major irritant, said Bithal. The temple management committee chief also lamented the somewhat chaotic traffic system of the town. In the absence of a single traffic signal anywhere in the city, the traffic management remains outdated, he said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Improving the traffic management system and effective implementation of traffic rules were urgently needed, he said. Mahesh Guput Pitalkewadwale, said to be the most influential Gayawal Panda having a sizeable religious clientele in Nepal and elsewhere within the country, regretted that despite chief minister Nitish Kumar's assurance given about five years back, permanent parking arrangement has not been made for pilgrims. Favouring in person performance of Pinda daan, Guput said the Pandas were opposed to the very concept of remote/online Pind daan rituals introduced by the tourism department of the state govt. According to Guput, more and more pilgrims now prefer the road route to visit Gaya for Pinda daan performance as they consider it to be more preferable on account of its flexibility and personalised nature. Making an interesting point, Guput said whereas earlier pilgrims came by bus, the trend has now changed and many people now prefer personal vehicles. He said a permanent parking arrangement at a convenient point was required. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
MPs demand more trains from Bihar
Patna: Rajya Sabha member Bhim Singh met railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday and demanded direct Gaya-Surat and Gaya-Delhi trains. He also demanded a daily run of the Udhna-Danapur Express. He also demanded a Vande Bharat sleeper train from Gaya to New Delhi. The BJP MP said the railway minister assured him that he would consider his demands sympathetically. JD(U) national executive president and MP Sanjay Kumar Jha also wrote a letter to the minister requesting an increase in the number of special trains to Bihar during the festival season. Singh, in the letter submitted to the minister, stated that more than 5 lakh migrant workers from Bihar live in Surat city of Gujarat. They want to return home on festivals and other occasions. But due to the absence of any direct train from Gaya to Surat, they have to face difficulties. Singh also said Gaya is a major religious place where lakhs of devotees from all over the country reach to perform Pind daan during Pitripaksha. "A large number of devotees also come there from Gujarat. So, a direct train will benefit both the migrants and the devotees," he said. Singh also mentioned that the Udhna-Danapur Express operates only twice a week. He specifically requested that a Vande Bharat sleeper train should also have a stop at Anugrah Narayan Road (Aurangabad) station, so that the officials and employees of NTPC and the railways can also travel conveniently to Delhi.
