During the world-renowned Shravani Mela, the increasing rush of devotees traveling from Sultanganj to Baba Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar, has started impacting Tarapur's traffic system. On Saturday, a nearly three-kilometer-long traffic jam occurred in Tarapur market, located on SH-22. Around 3:30 PM, long queues of vehicles were observed in the market area, leading to complete traffic halts multiple times. The constant movement of Kanwariya buses, private four-wheelers, e-rickshaws, autos, tractors, and two-wheelers in the market contributed to the congestion. This caused significant inconvenience to local residents, devotees heading to Deoghar, and other commuters. Shoppers in the market also faced difficulties in movement.

Local residents, including Rajesh Kumar, Suresh Yadav, Sumitra Devi, and Sajeev Kumar, identified the arbitrary actions of e-rickshaw drivers as a major cause of the jam. According to them, drivers often park their e-rickshaws (totos) on the roadside or even in the middle of the road while waiting for passengers. Additionally, many four-wheeler drivers also stop their vehicles on the road, leading to long queues within minutes, making it difficult for the police to clear the jam. A few days ago, the administration had conducted an anti-encroachment drive to clear the roadsides. However, vegetable, fruit, and other shops have again started occupying the roadsides, narrowing the road. In many places, pedestrian encroachment on footpaths forces pedestrians to walk on the road, increasing the risk of accidents.

SDO Rakesh Ranjan Kumar stated that two traffic police personnel are already deployed to manage traffic during the Shravani Mela. Additionally, three police constables have been stationed at various points at the police station level. He also mentioned that additional police forces would be arranged if required.