26 Parents, Kin Convicted In City This Year For Allowing Underage Driving | Nagpur News - The Times of India Nagpur: Courts in Nagpur have convicted 26 parents or vehicle owners this year for enabling minors to drive motor vehicles, imposing a combined fine of 30,000 per case and suspending driving licenses for 12 months. The convictions, which mark a heightened enforcement effort, stem from cases registered by the city’s traffic police in 2026 as part of a campaign to curb underage driving and mitigate road accident risks. The initiative is led by DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar, who emphasized that parental accountability is critical in addressing the issue. Under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, each convicted individual faces a fine of 25,000, while Section 199(4) mandates the cancellation or disqualification of driving licenses for 12 months. The combined penalties total 30,000 per case. Traffic police officials highlighted the dangers of underage driving, noting that minors lack valid licenses and may not possess the physical or mental maturity required to navigate traffic conditions or respond to emergencies. They warned that allowing children to operate vehicles, whether two-wheelers or cars, poses significant risks to both the minors and other road users. The convictions come amid a surge in cases involving minors driving in the city. Since 2025, over 125 parents have faced FIRs after their children were caught driving, with police booking 77 parents in 2025 alone. This year, more than 48 FIRs have been registered against parents by August, compared to 33 during the same period in 2025. Despite repeated enforcement actions, traffic police officials reiterated that parental involvement remains a primary factor in enabling underage driving.#nagpur #times_of_india #traffic_police #aditya_mirkhelkar #motor_vehicles_act
Nagpur Traffic Police’s 'Operation No Wrong Side' Nets 190 FIRs in 16 Days Nagpur Traffic Police launched a 16-day crackdown titled "Operation No Wrong Side" between August 25 and September 7, resulting in the registration of 190 FIRs against motorists for wrong-side driving. The operation, spearheaded by DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar, aimed to curb a violation that police have identified as a significant contributor to road accidents. During the drive, Sonegaon recorded the highest number of cases at 45, while Kamptee had the fewest with five. Officials explained that many drivers take the wrong side of the road to save time or avoid traveling to the next junction for a legal turn. This seemingly minor shortcut has, however, led to fatal accidents on Nagpur’s roads. To deter offenders, traffic police have employed FIRs, criminal prosecution, and vehicle seizures as deterrent measures. The operation will continue, with warnings of strict legal action against habitual offenders across the city. Data from the crackdown revealed enforcement actions across 11 traffic zones. Sonegaon accounted for 45 violations, nearly a quarter of the total cases. Cotton Market followed with 21 cases, while Indora recorded 19. MIDC and Lakadganj each had 18 cases, and Sitabuldi, Sadar, and Sakkardara reported 14, 10, and 13 cases respectively. Pardi and Kalamna had 12 and 9 cases, while Ajni reported six. Kamptee, with five cases, and Ajni, with six, were the zones with the fewest violations. Traffic police data also highlighted a significant increase in enforcement actions this year. In 2025, 10,217 enforcement actions were recorded, and in the first seven months of 2026 alone, 8,389 actions were logged, surpassing 82% of the previous year’s total.#kamptee #aditya_mirkhelkar #sonegaon #operation_no_wrong_side #nagpur_traffic_police
15 Noise Violations, Not a Single Case Registered: Cops Tell Bombay HC The Nagpur police disclosed to the Bombay High Court on Monday that 15 instances of noise levels exceeding permissible limits were detected in the city between August 1 and September 3, yet no criminal cases were registered or action taken on complaints received during the period. The information was provided in an affidavit filed by DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar before the Nagpur bench of the court. The disclosure emerged as the high court continued hearings on a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the enforcement of noise-pollution regulations. The PIL, which includes a suo motu case initiated by the court following media reports and petitions from various organizations, focuses on the inadequacy of current measures to address noise violations. The court’s division bench, comprising Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Raj Wakode, had previously directed authorities to enforce noise-pollution laws strictly, emphasizing that fines alone were insufficient. The bench reiterated that violations must be addressed in accordance with legal provisions, including potential seizure of equipment and registration of offenses in serious cases. The police affidavit detailed that complaints about excessive noise from loudspeakers, DJs, public events, and processions could lead to legal action, including equipment seizure and prosecution. However, the report noted that no such measures were implemented during the specified period. Regional police officers were instructed to act immediately upon detecting violations, but the affidavit revealed no criminal offenses were registered.#bombay_high_court #nagpur_police #nagpur_municipal_corporation #public_interest_litigation #aditya_mirkhelkar
One in Every Three Road Accident Deaths in Nagpur Involves Pedestrians Traffic police data from Nagpur reveals a concerning trend in road safety, with pedestrians accounting for nearly a third of all road accident fatalities over the past three years. Between January 2024 and August 2026, 776 people were killed in 3,129 road accidents, of which 247 were pedestrians. This represents approximately 32% of all fatalities during the period. On average, eight pedestrians lost their lives each month, highlighting the persistent risk faced by pedestrians in the city. The proportion of pedestrian deaths has remained consistently high despite improvements in overall road safety metrics. In 2024, 110 pedestrians were killed among 353 total fatalities, making up 31.2% of deaths. The following year, 2025 saw 88 pedestrian fatalities out of 259 total deaths, raising the percentage to 34%. This year, the trend continues, with 49 pedestrians killed in the first eight months of 2026, contributing to 29.9% of the 164 fatalities recorded by August. These statistics come amid a broader decline in road accidents and fatalities. The city recorded 701 accidents in the first eight months of 2026, a 15.1% drop compared to 826 accidents during the same period in 2025. Fatal accidents fell by 21.7%, from 198 to 155, while deaths decreased by 21.9%, from 210 to 164. The number of injured individuals also dropped by 11.2%, from 752 to 668. This improvement is attributed to intensified efforts by traffic police under DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar, including surprise checks and stricter enforcement measures. Despite these gains, pedestrian safety remains a critical issue. Recent incidents have drawn attention to the problem, including the death of a morning walker in Seminary Hills after being struck by a speeding car.#nagpur #seminary_hills #traffic_police #aditya_mirkhelkar #ajni
Nagpur Traffic Police Launch Surprise Inspections to Boost Visibility Nagpur traffic police have introduced a new initiative inspired by the Indian Army’s surprise inspections, conducting daily spot checks to ensure officers are present and actively enforcing traffic rules. DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar explained that the move aims to enhance the visibility of traffic personnel on city roads, which he believes will improve compliance with traffic regulations. The department has deployed 625 personnel and 500 home guards across 171 major intersections to manage vehicular movement and enforce rules. Under the new system, assistant police inspector (API)-rank officers are tasked with checking 20 locations during each of the three shifts—morning, afternoon, and night—covering 60 traffic points daily. During these inspections, officers verify whether personnel are present and performing their duties. If an officer is found absent without authorization, a notice is issued requiring an explanation. Mirkhelkar emphasized that the surprise checks, conducted without prior notice to the officers, are designed to maintain discipline and ensure consistent enforcement. The initiative has already led to increased deployment of traffic personnel at several locations, particularly during nighttime hours. Mirkhelkar noted that a visible police presence is expected to deter violations such as illegal parking and wrong-side driving, which are major contributors to congestion in the city. Experts have highlighted the need for stricter enforcement against these issues, especially in high-traffic areas like Wardha Road, Kingsway Road, near the railway station, Cotton Market Road, Itwari, and Mahal. The move comes amid persistent traffic challenges in Nagpur, with officials acknowledging the need to address recurring problems.#nagpur #wardha_road #traffic_police #aditya_mirkhelkar #kingsway_road
Roads Jammed, Rules Flouted: New DCP Faces Traffic Crisis Nagpur: As the city’s new DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar takes charge, he inherits a traffic system under increasing strain from rising vehicular numbers, infrastructure-related disruptions, illegal parking, and poor road discipline. With traffic congestion becoming a daily reality across several major corridors and market areas, experts believe the city will require a multi-pronged approach to tackle its growing mobility challenges. The pressure on Nagpur’s road network has intensified in recent years due to a sharp rise in vehicle registrations. According to official data, the combined vehicle population registered under the Urban, East and Rural Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) has crossed 33 lakh. Among the most congested stretches is Wardha Road, one of Nagpur’s busiest arterial corridors. During peak morning hours, long queues of vehicles are routinely seen near Airport Square, often extending over the double-decker flyover. Similar congestion is witnessed at Ajni Square during evening rush hours, while Kriplani Square, Rahate Colony, and Lokmat Square regularly experience long traffic snarls. Several locations, including Sitabulji Square, Sadar, RBI Square, LIC Square, Railway Station Road, Cotton Market, and Rani Jhansi Square, continue to face traffic congestion throughout the day. Illegal parking, roadside encroachments, and the unregulated movement of autorickshaws and e-rickshaws are among the major factors contributing to the problem. Traffic chaos is also a regular feature in older and densely populated localities such as Mahal, Itwari, Jaripatka, and Pachpaoli, where narrow roads, commercial activity, and roadside parking significantly affect vehicular movement.#nagpur #wardha_road #ajni_square #kriplani_square #aditya_mirkhelkar
Easing Traffic At Chronic Bottlenecks, Road Discipline On New DCP’s Agenda Nagpur’s newly appointed deputy commissioner of police (Traffic), Aditya Mirkhelkar, has outlined his priorities for addressing the city’s traffic challenges, which include easing congestion at critical junctions, improving road discipline, and enhancing coordination among agencies involved in infrastructure projects. Mirkhelkar, an engineer-turned-IPS officer from the 2019 Maharashtra cadre, assumed his role following the transfer of former DCP (Traffic) Lohit Matani, who was posted as Superintendent of Police, Highway Traffic, Nagpur. His appointment comes amid rising vehicular numbers, ongoing road construction, and persistent traffic jams at key locations. Mirkhelkar emphasized that his immediate focus would be on alleviating congestion in commercial and transit areas, particularly in locations such as Mahal, Itwari, and Baidyanath Square, which have long been plagued by traffic bottlenecks. He acknowledged that these areas have become routine sources of inconvenience and pledged to implement innovative solutions to improve traffic flow. “We will have to come up with out-of-the-box solutions to improve traffic flow and reduce inconvenience to citizens,” he stated. In addition to addressing congestion, Mirkhelkar highlighted the importance of maintaining the recent decline in road accidents and fatalities. He noted that efforts would be directed toward further reducing accidents while promoting stricter compliance with traffic rules among drivers. The DCP also stressed the need for better coordination among agencies managing infrastructure and utility projects, as overlapping permissions for road closures and diversions often exacerbate congestion.#nagpur #aditya_mirkhelkar #dcp_traffic #lohit_matani #mahal_itwari_baidyanath_square
