Nagpur Police has banned the bursting of firecrackers on public roads and prohibited flying lanterns across the city during Diwali, while restricting the sale and use of fireworks near fuel facilities, chemical depots and silence zones. The prohibitory order will remain in force from November 6 to midnight on November 14.
Police commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil issued the restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The order cites public safety, fire hazards and environmental concerns behind the controls on fireworks and related activities during the festival period.
Under the order, bursting firecrackers on public roads has been strictly prohibited. The police said the restriction is being implemented in compliance with a Bombay High Court order dated September 23, 2026. The road restriction applies to public spaces across Nagpur during the period covered by the prohibitory order.
The police commissioner has also directed firecracker manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers in the city to sell only green crackers. The order links this requirement to Nagpur’s classification under the moderate air pollution category. Green crackers are subject to specified emission standards, although the police order does not provide further details on enforcement procedures or the products that retailers must stock.
Firecrackers have been prohibited within 200 feet of petrol pumps, LPG cylinder godowns, kerosene depots, firecracker shops, facilities storing inflammable materials and chemical depots. These restrictions cover locations where an ignition source could increase the risk of fire or intensify the consequences of an accident.
The order also identifies silence zones as areas where firecrackers cannot be burst. These include locations around schools, colleges, hospitals and courts. The restriction places educational, healthcare and judicial facilities among the sensitive areas protected from fireworks-related noise during the festival period.
Flying lanterns have been completely prohibited across Nagpur city. The order does not distinguish between different types or locations of flying lanterns, making the ban applicable throughout the city for the duration of the restrictions.
The measures place responsibility on several parts of the firecracker supply chain, including manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, while also regulating where residents can use fireworks. The restrictions are in addition to the general prohibition on bursting crackers on public roads and the citywide ban on flying lanterns.
The prohibitory order will remain operational until midnight on November 14. The police order sets the applicable period for the restrictions but, according to the supplied report, does not specify separate enforcement arrangements, penalties or a process for permissions during the festival.
