Mahal Dreads Traffic Congestion as Festive Shopping Season Begins Residents of Mahal, a neighborhood in Nagpur, are already bracing for the annual six-month traffic chaos that accompanies the festive shopping season. With Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations over and Chaturmas underway, commercial activity is surging ahead of Shravan, the start of the city’s long festive period. The congestion, which typically peaks during the holiday season, has already begun to manifest in key areas such as Badkas Chowk, Chitar Oli, Kelibagh Road, Zhenda Chowk, and the lanes leading to Itwari and the market area. Roadside spaces are increasingly occupied by hawkers and temporary stalls, exacerbating the problem. Shridutta Tambe, a Mahal resident, described the situation as a recurring annual ordeal. “This is only the beginning. Within a few weeks, even taking a two-wheeler out of the house becomes difficult. Every year we face the same problem until the festive season ends,” he said. The issue is particularly acute in residential lanes, which transform into makeshift parking spaces during peak hours. These lanes often become bottlenecks, leading to arguments and prolonged delays during evenings and weekends. Shrikant Kawale, another resident, highlighted the impact on daily life. “For nearly six months, our locality functions like an extension of the market. During the peak season, people often park vehicles in front of residential gates and, at times, even inside apartment parking areas,” he noted. While acknowledging the economic importance of the festive trade, residents emphasized the need for better management. “We understand residents’ concerns, but customers have nowhere to park,” Kawale added. A trader near Gandhi Putla, Itwari, echoed this sentiment.#nagpur #mahal #ashadhi_ekadashi #chaturmas #shravan
