Nagpur’s Diwali shopping rush has led to traffic gridlocks, parking disorder and blocked footpaths across major commercial areas, prompting criticism of the traffic police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for failing to prepare a coordinated festive-season plan.
The disruption has been reported in market areas including Mahal, Itwari, Gandhibagh, Sitabuldi, Jaripatka, Sadar, Dharampeth and Sakkardara. Haphazard parking, unauthorised vending on roads and footpaths, and limited deployment of traffic personnel have added to congestion in these locations.
The Times of India report said the traffic pressure was predictable because Diwali shopping brings large crowds to Nagpur’s commercial hubs every year. Residents questioned why the authorities had not prepared designated parking arrangements, traffic diversions or additional enforcement at known congestion points.
NMC’s enforcement department has around 70 dedicated personnel, comprising a central team and zonal anti-encroachment squads working through the civic body’s 10 zonal offices. Despite this deployment, unauthorised vendors continue to occupy public roads and pedestrian spaces, according to the report.
Assistant municipal commissioner Sanjay Kamble said the department was primarily focusing on Sitabuldi Main Road and roads in Mahal. Residents, however, said that the limited focus left other commercial areas vulnerable to congestion and encroachment during the shopping rush.
Meena Singh, a resident of West Nagpur, questioned the lack of advance preparation. “Citizens cannot be expected to suffer because officials fail to plan ahead,” she said.
The report also referred to a legal notice served by a citizen on municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar over encroached footpaths. The complaint reflects growing concern about the loss of pedestrian space, which forces people to walk close to moving traffic on already congested roads.
Corporator Sanjay Balpande from Central Nagpur alleged that complaints against unauthorised vendors had repeatedly been ignored. He said he had raised the issue during a general body meeting and that mayor Neeta Thakre had directed the department to act, but alleged that no effective action followed.
Residents Rahul Lanke and Pravin Palkar said the congestion had made daily travel more difficult and increased journey times across the city. Experts cited in the report said traffic police and the civic administration needed coordinated action rather than treating vehicle movement and encroachments as separate problems.
A festive-season traffic plan proposed in the report would include designated parking areas, additional traffic personnel at congestion hotspots, action against illegal vending and coordinated anti-encroachment drives. Social worker Deepak Lalwani also urged motorists to follow traffic rules, avoid mobile phone use and drunk driving, and comply with helmet, seat-belt, signalling and traffic-signal requirements.
