Bullock Carts, Donkeys, and Cycles: VBA Protest Against Fuel Price Hikes in Akola A symbolic protest against the rising costs of petrol and diesel unfolded in Akola on Monday, as activists from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) took to the streets carrying bullock carts, donkeys, horses, bicycles, and hand-pulled rickshaws. The demonstration, organized to highlight the growing financial burden of fuel prices on ordinary citizens, began at Tower Chowk and moved toward the District Collector’s office, drawing large crowds of farmers, women, and party workers. Participants deliberately chose non-motorized and traditional modes of transport to underscore their message: that escalating fuel costs could force people to revert to pre-modern commuting methods. The protest stood out for its unique visuals, with hundreds of bullock carts lining the roads while others rode horses, donkeys, bicycles, or walked on foot. A senior participant remarked, “At 55, we never thought we would see the return of bullock carts in daily life. But rising fuel prices have reminded us of our childhood days.” Corporator Parag Gawai, who rode a donkey during the protest, called the act symbolic, stating, “If the government is asking people to save fuel, then perhaps this is the alternative. Even leaders should try such rides if fuel continues to get costlier.” Farmers participating in the march warned that surging diesel prices would directly impact agricultural operations, particularly with the upcoming kharif season. They highlighted how rising fuel costs affect irrigation and farm machinery, increasing fertiliser and input expenses and ultimately raising cultivation costs. Women protesters emphasized the strain on household budgets, noting, “When fuel prices rise, everything becomes expensive. Even cooking becomes difficult.#akola #vanchit_bahujan_aghadi #district_collector #tower_chowk #parag_gawai
Voter Verification Drive in Nagpur Surpasses 67% in Rural Areas, 45% in City Nagpur: With an intensive, ground-level push to clean up electoral rolls, the Nagpur district administration has significantly accelerated voter verification, raising coverage from 30% to 67% in rural areas and 45% in the city within just two weeks. The drive, led by district collector Kumar Ashirwad, aims to ensure that all eligible citizens are included in the electoral roll and that errors in voter details are corrected ahead of upcoming elections as part of pre-SIR mapping. Officials noted that the verification rate stood at just 30% a fortnight ago. The sharp rise has been attributed to tighter coordination between electoral registration officers, assistant electoral registration officers, supervisors, booth level officers, and booth level agents from various parties. Ashirwad described voter verification as "national duty" and credited the improvement to joint efforts at every level, from administrative officers to ground staff. He urged citizens to actively participate in the process to ensure no eligible voter is left out. Nagpur, which had lagged behind other districts earlier, saw direct interactions between the collector and booth level officers (BLOs) to identify on-ground challenges. Officials with lower performance were given targeted training, while party booth level agents (BLAs) were asked to extend full cooperation. Among the 12 assembly constituencies in the district, Katol recorded a verification rate of 75%, followed by Umred at 83%, Ramtek at 84%, Saoner at 68%, Hingna at 53%, and Kamptee at 56%. In urban Nagpur, Nagpur South-West stood at 46.37%, Nagpur Central at 53%, West at 41%, while Nagpur North was at 43%, East at 44%, and South at 42%.#nagpur #nagpur_district #district_collector #kumar_ashirwad #electoral_registration_officers
Member of Parliament Pratibha Dhanorkar Alleges Protocol Violation, Demands Privileges Committee Inquiry Chandrapur: Member of Parliament Pratibha Dhanorkar has formally lodged a complaint with the Lok Sabha Speaker, accusing district officials of violating protocol and publicly humiliating her during a government event on Monday. The incident occurred at the official “Rajmata Rani Hirai Jayanti” programme in Chandrapur, where Dhanorkar alleged that administrative officers disregarded the prescribed order of precedence for elected representatives. While she was addressing the gathering, an MLA was abruptly brought onto the stage with elaborate fanfare, disrupting her speech and forcing her to halt proceedings. Dhanorkar described the disruption as a premeditated attempt to embarrass an elected official. She claimed that the district collector and municipal commissioner had acted under pressure from the ruling party, allowing political workers without official positions or invitations to gain prominence. According to her complaint, the event, which was funded by public resources, had effectively become a private gathering favoring a specific political faction. She emphasized that such conduct by administrative officers constitutes a direct affront to the democratic values upheld by Parliament. The MP has requested the Lok Sabha Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee, demanding a thorough inquiry and strict disciplinary action against officials found guilty of misusing their authority and breaching protocol. Dhanorkar’s allegations highlight tensions between elected representatives and administrative bodies, raising questions about the adherence to formal procedures in public events.#municipal_commissioner #pratibha_dhanorkar #district_collector #lok_sabha_speaker #rajmata_rani_hirai_jayanti
Auto Mafia Controls Nagpur Transport, Passengers Forced to Walk in Extreme Heat Nagpur: As the city swelters above 42°C, passengers arriving at the main railway station in Sitabuldi are forced into an exhausting walk with heavy luggage, with app-based cab services still unavailable in station premises due to the fear of the autorickshaw mafia. Senior citizens, women, and children are among the worst hit, as autorickshaw operators dictate fares in the absence of an organised transport system at one of Central India's busiest railway junctions. The situation is compounded by delays in launching app-based cab services, months after Central Railway awarded the tender to BharatCabs for dedicated operations. Sources said the rollout is pending due to the mandatory no-objection certificate from a committee headed by the district collector, with members from the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and city traffic police. While the RTO has the authority to approve fare structures, the final regulatory clearance is still awaited. Officials indicated that documentation is largely complete, but procedural hurdles continue to stall the project. In the meantime, passengers are forced to walk with their luggage outside the station towards Jaistambh Chowk and nearby areas around Tekdi Ganesh temple to take a cab. Commuters have flagged exhaustion, dehydration risks, and safety concerns, especially during peak heat hours. The absence of a designated pick-up zone within the station has led to congestion on roads at both gates of the railway station, with private vehicles halting haphazardly. Railway authorities, meanwhile, have intensified action against unauthorised autorickshaws operating near the station.#nagpur #rto #district_collector #sitabuldi_railway_station #bharatcabs
Around 30 petrol pumps ran dry in Nagpur on Wednesday, prompting the district collector to urge oil companies to ensure maximum supply. Collector Vipin Itankar directed officials of petroleum firms to address the issue after members of the Federation of Maharashtra Petroleum Dealers Association (FAMPEDA) highlighted the shortage. The dealers, along with oil company representatives, met the collector to discuss supply constraints caused by restricted operating hours and limited credit facilities. The Nagpur administration also coordinated with Wardha authorities to keep the Nayara Energy depot operational beyond 2:30 pm, as the facility’s timing restrictions were slowing down tanker refills. Dealers reported that the strict payment deadlines imposed by some companies, such as BPCL’s Borkhedi pump requiring cash before 2:30 pm, were disrupting refilling processes. Oil company officials were asked to relax payment terms and allow credit to ease the situation. The collector emphasized that there was sufficient stock of petrol and diesel in the district, though consumer behavior had shifted dramatically. Panic buying had led to abnormal spikes in fuel purchases, with two-wheeler riders buying up to Rs 600 worth of fuel instead of their usual Rs 100, while four-wheelers increased their average spending to Rs 2,000–6,000 compared to Rs 300–600. The collector’s note stated that the district had 10,500 kilolitres of petrol and 3,500 kilolitres of diesel in storage, referencing the Borkhedi depot. Amit Gupta, FAMPEDA president, called for consumer restraint, while Viraj Lamba, a dealer at Indora Chowk, noted that panic buying persisted on Wednesday. Officials claimed operations could be managed smoothly with support from the companies.#nagpur #nayara_energy #district_collector #fampeda #borkhedi_pump
