Handbrake-lacking Aapli buses under scanner; NMC orders probe Allegations that nearly 180 Aapli buses in Nagpur are operating without functional handbrakes have sparked a major safety concern, prompting the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) transport department to launch a detailed inspection of the city’s diesel bus fleet. The probe was initiated following a complaint by Congress corporator and transport committee member Shailesh Pandey, who accused the operators of allowing buses to run without essential safety equipment. Pandey alleged that at least 180 midi and mini buses under the Aapli Bus service lacked handbrakes, fire extinguishers, and first-aid boxes, posing significant risks to commuters. He also highlighted damaged wiring in several vehicles, which could increase the likelihood of fire incidents. Acting on the complaint, the NMC transport department ordered inspections of 195 diesel buses, including 150 midi and 40 mini buses operating across the city. NMC deputy municipal commissioner and transport manager Meghna Wasankar directed officials to remove from service any bus found without proper handbrakes or critical safety systems. Pandey questioned how buses with technical deficiencies were issued fitness certificates by regional transport offices (RTOs), despite the glaring issues. He also accused Chalo Mobility and operators of ignoring repeated complaints about the buses’ condition. The issue escalated on Monday when employees of the Nagpur District Drivers’ Union, led by Shiv Sena-affiliated Nitin Tiwari, staged a protest at Mor Bhavan depot in Sitabuldi. During the agitation, Pandey and Tiwari allegedly showed defective buses parked at the depot to transport officials, demanding explanations for why such vehicles were still on the roads.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #shailesh_pandey #meghna_wasankar #chalo_mobility #nagpur_district_drivers_union
Plastic, sewage, and neglect: Gorewada Lake faces a hidden threat A recent ground investigation by The Times of India (TOI) revealed a concealed pollution route into Gorewada Lake in Nagpur, with untreated sewage flowing from the rear of Gorewada International Zoo. The stream, carrying plastic waste and urban debris, travels through the forest before entering the lake. Originating from the zoo’s forested backside, the sewage flows under Katol Road via a culvert and drains into the lake’s western edge. The discharge is continuous, grey, and foul-smelling, raising concerns about unmonitored sewage contaminating a critical water source for the city. Earlier claims by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation that sewage from the Dabha area was polluting Gorewada Lake were contradicted by TOI’s parallel visit to sewage treatment facilities in Dabha. The 5 MLD (million liters per day) plant operated by Vishwaraj Enviro Private Limited is currently treating only 1.5 MLD of sewage, diverting it into a nullah toward Friends Colony. At Hazaripahad, a 4 MLD facility further treats wastewater before releasing it into a channel that meets the Pili River near Vincent Pallotti School. Local corporator Shailesh Pandey, who accompanied the inspection, stated there is no direct flow of Dabha sewage into Gorewada, challenging the official narrative and shifting focus to an unidentified source within or around the forest zone. The discovery is alarming not only for the sewage itself but for the waste it carries. The stream winds through the forest, leaving behind a trail of plastic waste, polythene bags, torn clothes, and household debris.#times_of_india #nagpur_municipal_corporation #gorewada_international_zoo #vishwaraj_enviro_private_limited #shailesh_pandey
