Nagpur’s heavy-vehicle restrictions failed to prevent a fatal Godhani Road crash after police found that the truck involved was operating inside city limits without a No Objection Certificate and during prohibited hours. The vehicle ran over a woman and critically injured her son at about 5pm, according to the investigation reported by the Times of India.
Heavy vehicles are prohibited from using city roads in Nagpur between 8am and noon and again from 4pm to 10pm. The crash occurred within the evening restriction period, raising questions about how the truck entered and travelled along the busy urban stretch despite the operating rules.
A senior police officer overseeing the investigation told the Times of India that the truck had no permission to ply on city roads. Police have invoked culpable homicide charges against the driver, who has been arrested and remanded to magisterial custody.
The investigation has identified two separate regulatory violations linked to the vehicle’s movement: it lacked the required NOC and was allegedly operating during hours when heavy-vehicle movement is restricted. The findings place the enforcement of heavy-vehicle controls at the centre of the case, alongside the criminal proceedings against the driver.
The restrictions are intended to keep large commercial vehicles away from congested city roads during high-traffic periods. The morning restriction runs from 8am to noon, while the evening restriction runs from 4pm to 10pm. The accident’s timing, around 5pm, fell within the latter window.
Residents have criticised the traffic police and the Regional Transport Office for failing to prevent such violations. They alleged that enforcement agencies have not created an effective deterrent, allowing heavy-vehicle operators to disregard restrictions without fear of consequences. Their criticism points to the difference between having a traffic rule on paper and ensuring that vehicles are checked, stopped and penalised before they reach crowded roads.
Residents have also demanded a stricter prohibition on heavy vehicles along the affected stretch between 5am and 11pm. Such a measure would extend the existing restricted period, which currently permits heavy vehicles during the middle of the day and overnight, subject to applicable permissions and controls.
The police investigation is continuing with the driver in magisterial custody. The case will now proceed alongside scrutiny of the truck’s permissions and the enforcement response on Godhani Road.
