Trailer Driver Blocks Samruddhi Expressway Near Wardha After Being Challaned A trailer driver reportedly blocked the Samruddhi Expressway near Wardha on Sunday afternoon, causing a traffic jam that lasted nearly an hour. The incident occurred after the driver, allegedly upset over being challaned by Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials, parked the heavy vehicle across the Mumbai-bound lanes near Virul in Wardha district and fled the scene with the keys. Police later detained the driver, who now faces charges for obstructing traffic and hindering law enforcement duties. According to officials, the trailer was challaned for illegally halting on the expressway and other violations. The incident took place around noon, and the driver allegedly engaged in an argument with RTO personnel before exiting the vehicle. He then parked the trailer on the Mumbai-bound carriageway, blocking all lanes. Highway police SP Lohit Matani stated that the driver fled the spot with the keys, prompting authorities to trace him, retrieve the keys, and move the trailer to restore traffic flow. Regional transport officer Kiran Bidkar confirmed that an FIR would be filed against the driver for blocking the expressway and preventing officials from carrying out their duties. The process to cancel the driver’s license has also been initiated. Truck drivers present at the scene alleged that after a challan of Rs13,500 was issued, RTO officials confiscated the keys and documents of the trailer. They further claimed that vehicles were not allowed to proceed on the expressway even after paying the fines, which they said fueled resentment among the driver and other truckers. RTO officials denied these allegations, maintaining that their procedures were followed.#wardha #samruddhi_expressway #regional_transport_office #lohit_matani #kiran_bidkar
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
