Roads Jammed, Rules Flouted: New DCP Faces Traffic Crisis Nagpur: As the city’s new DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar takes charge, he inherits a traffic system under increasing strain from rising vehicular numbers, infrastructure-related disruptions, illegal parking, and poor road discipline. With traffic congestion becoming a daily reality across several major corridors and market areas, experts believe the city will require a multi-pronged approach to tackle its growing mobility challenges. The pressure on Nagpur’s road network has intensified in recent years due to a sharp rise in vehicle registrations. According to official data, the combined vehicle population registered under the Urban, East and Rural Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) has crossed 33 lakh. Among the most congested stretches is Wardha Road, one of Nagpur’s busiest arterial corridors. During peak morning hours, long queues of vehicles are routinely seen near Airport Square, often extending over the double-decker flyover. Similar congestion is witnessed at Ajni Square during evening rush hours, while Kriplani Square, Rahate Colony, and Lokmat Square regularly experience long traffic snarls. Several locations, including Sitabulji Square, Sadar, RBI Square, LIC Square, Railway Station Road, Cotton Market, and Rani Jhansi Square, continue to face traffic congestion throughout the day. Illegal parking, roadside encroachments, and the unregulated movement of autorickshaws and e-rickshaws are among the major factors contributing to the problem. Traffic chaos is also a regular feature in older and densely populated localities such as Mahal, Itwari, Jaripatka, and Pachpaoli, where narrow roads, commercial activity, and roadside parking significantly affect vehicular movement.#nagpur #wardha_road #ajni_square #kriplani_square #aditya_mirkhelkar
Fuel Famine Drives Motorists To City Outskirts Nagpur: A growing fuel shortage has forced commuters to travel to the city’s outskirts in search of petrol and diesel, creating chaotic scenes at fuel stations along Wardha Road and Kamptee Road. With several pumps within the city limits either closing early or overwhelmed by demand, drivers are now braving long distances to refuel, only to face endless queues that have turned service roads into congested arteries. The situation has escalated rapidly, with tempers fraying as uncertainty lingers over when normal supply will resume. Kiran Tekam, a motorist heading to AIIMS in MIHAN to visit a patient, described his frustration after avoiding nearby pumps like Narendra Nagar and Chhatrapati Square due to long lines. “I thought the outskirts would be easier, but I’ve been stuck here for 15 minutes already, with several vehicles ahead of me,” he said, gesturing at the slow-moving traffic. The fear of running out of fuel has pushed many to fill up whenever possible, even if it means waiting for extended periods. Pankaj Borkar, a Jamtha resident working in MIHAN, waited over 40 minutes to refuel his bike. “I didn’t want to take chances. If there’s an emergency and I have no petrol, what will I do?” he said, echoing the concerns of others in the queue. Even daily commuters, accustomed to long routes, are surprised by the scale of the rush. Dilip Bhadoriya, an e-rickshaw driver operating between Jamtha and Khapri, noted that the situation has worsened dramatically. “I’ve never seen queues like this in the morning. Even yesterday wasn’t this bad,” he added. Akash Tambe, traveling to Chandrapur, expressed skepticism about the situation worsening. “City petrol pumps are not letting us fill beyond 2 litres of diesel.#nagpur #aiims #wardha_road #kamptee_road #mihan
