Nagpur traffic DCP walks through congested markets with traders ahead of festival season

Traffic problems are growing in Nagpur district. Wrong-side driving is rampant, and busy markets see jams during the festival season. The police have moved to tackle the problem. Acting on a memorandum from the NVCC, Traffic DCP Aditya Mirkhelkar inspected major commercial areas with police officers and office-bearers of the chamber.

It began on October 15, when an NVCC delegation met DCP Mirkhelkar in his office and submitted a memorandum on improving the city's traffic arrangements. The delegation included the chamber's Ramavtar Totla, Hemant Sarda, Rajwantpal Singh Tuli, Rakesh Gandhi, Salim Ajani, Abhay Agrawal and Suraj Singh Thakur. They raised several serious problems related to the city's traffic.

A special meeting was held at Jain Bhavan in Gandhibagh with local trade bodies and traders of the area. The DCP heard the traders' difficulties and discussed short-term and long-term steps to improve traffic. Narayan Toshniwal, Anis Khan, Kamal Kishore Sarda, Balram Kakwani, Manoharlal Ahuja and Jugal Sharma were present at the meeting.

Taking the suggestions seriously, the DCP promised immediate action. As promised, he went out into the field with Traffic Police Inspector Ajay Mankar. With president Swapnil Ahiskar and other office-bearers, he walked through extremely busy areas including Ganjakhet Chowk, Golibar Chowk, Bharat Mata Chowk, Maskasath Chowk, Kirana Oli, Shaheed Chowk, Sarafa Bazaar, Tanga Stand, Nanga Putla and Teen Nal Chowk, and closely examined the traffic situation.

With the festivals in view, a demand was made to deploy police personnel from 4 pm to 9 pm in areas such as Itwari, Mahal, Gandhibagh garden, Shaheed Chowk, Teen Nal Chowk, Tanga Stand Chowk and DagA Hospital Chowk. The DCP cited the fire in a school bus at Wathoda Ghat Chowk. He stressed regular checks on school vans and buses running on illegal gas kits.

Tuli and Gandhi suggested introducing signal synchronisation at signals across the city to save fuel and keep traffic moving smoothly. They also urged that signals be installed immediately at the complex turns of the Ashok Chowk, Pardi-Kalamna and Shanti Nagar flyovers to prevent accidents.

Totla pointed out that on the Middle Ring Road, near schools, temples and commercial establishments, parents and auto, van and school bus drivers openly drive on the wrong side in the afternoon and evening. He demanded that all signals on the Middle Ring Road be kept working from 7 am to 10 pm and that at least two traffic policemen be posted at every square.

Sarda demanded speed breakers on both sides near the removed divider opposite Haldiram Day-to-Day on CA Road. He also sought a signal or speed breaker at Shastri Nagar and Kumhar Toli Chowk, and raised the issue of checking e-rickshaws running illegally in the city.