Cabs Grounded, Rlys Stunned By RedTape, Say Commuters Deserve Better Passengers at Nagpur railway station have been left in a state of frustration and distress as the rollout of smooth cab services has been repeatedly delayed by bureaucratic hurdles. Commuters, forced to navigate chaotic traffic, heavy luggage, and the scorching heat of a heatwave, have been trekking up to 300 meters to secure a cab, sparking outrage over the lack of basic convenience at one of Maharashtra’s key rail hubs. A harried traveler lamented, “In which Indian city do passengers face such trauma at the railway station? Will cabs roll out when the heatwave is over and rains come? Will Nagpur continue to suffer the auto mafia, who don’t allow app-based cabs to pick passengers from the station?” The commuter added that VIPs setting the rules rarely experience the same hardships as the common people. The issue traces back to a tender awarded in early January to a cab aggregator for operating services at Nagpur railway station. However, the process has been stalled by an unexpected requirement for fresh registration with the Regional Transport Authorities (RTA) and approval from a committee under the Nagpur collector. Senior railway officials confirmed that this administrative roadblock has delayed the service, leaving both the aggregator and Central Railways stunned by the sudden clause. “We issued a letter to the RTO and Collector office to expedite the process and allow the cab aggregator service to operate without delay,” said a senior Railways officer. The letter, dated March 26, 2026, highlighted the daily struggles of commuters without cab pickup services, which have been absent for nearly three years.#nagpur_railway_station #auto_mafia #nagpur_collector #central_railways #regional_transport_authorities
Nagpur Collector Caps School Timings Amid Severe Heatwave Nagpur: Following persistent advocacy by The Times of India (TOI) highlighting the lack of action on school timings during a severe heatwave, the Nagpur district collector’s office issued an order on Tuesday to cap school hours at 10:30 am. This directive applies to all schools, regardless of their educational board affiliations. Education department officials warned that schools failing to comply with the guidelines will face consequences. The decision came hours after TOI reported that Nagpur schools continued with regular timings despite temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius on certain days. In contrast, Chandrapur district collector Vasumana Pant had already ordered schools to close by 11 am once temperatures surpassed 44 degrees. Zafar Khan, a senior academic, praised the collector’s decision as a positive step for students but emphasized the need for an annual, well-planned adjustment to avoid disruptions to academic schedules. Schools welcomed the order, though concerns were raised about its impact on learning. Vipin Taksale, director of St Paul International School, noted that while shorter hours provide relief, they risk leaving the syllabus incomplete. He questioned the feasibility of half-hour classes and the need for tiffin breaks, suggesting the curtailed timing would apply only for the remaining days of April. Parents expressed frustration, arguing that the shortened hours would not allow meaningful learning. Rahul Srivastava, a parent, criticized the government for not declaring holidays, stating that three hours of schooling offers little educational value. He suggested shifting to online classes, as was done during the pandemic, to mitigate the heat’s impact.#times_of_india #nagpur_collector #chandrapur_district_collector #zafar_khan #vinita_bower
Ashirwad Appointed Nagpur Collector, Vasumana Pant Takes Charge in Chandrapur Nagpur: Kumar Ashirwad, a 2016 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been appointed as the new Nagpur district collector as part of a statewide reshuffle of IAS officers. Currently serving as Solapur collector, Ashirwad is expected to assume his new role in Nagpur on Saturday. A graduate of IIT Kharagpur in civil engineering, Ashirwad, born on March 10, 1988, has previously held positions as assistant collector, assistant secretary, and a stint in Gadchiroli. Speaking to The Times of India, Ashirwad emphasized the administrative importance of Nagpur, stating that his initial focus will be on understanding local challenges and reviewing ongoing development projects. "The first two to three months will involve extensive interactions and knowledge gathering," he said, highlighting the need for careful coordination and governance in the region. Ashirwad’s appointment marks a significant shift in the administrative structure of Maharashtra. Vipin Itankar, who had been serving as additional collector of Nagpur, will now take on his primary role as commissioner of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and additional charge as commissioner of the Maharashtra Agricultural Cooperative Development Corporation (MADC) and the Maharashtra Industrial and Investment Corporation (MIL). This transition underscores the state government’s efforts to streamline responsibilities and ensure efficient governance. The reshuffle also includes several other key appointments across the state. Satyam Gandhi has been named CEO of the Amravati Zilla Parishad, while Varsha Ladda will assume the role of Amravati Municipal Corporation commissioner.#vasumana_pant #kumar_ashirwad #nagpur_collector #chandrapur_collector #maharashtra_state_seeds_corporation
