Residents and commuters in Nagpur are facing an unprecedented traffic crisis along the crucial Deo Nagar Square to Vivekanand Nagar Square corridor, where what was once a functional road has now transformed into a virtual parking lot causing daily gridlock and frustration.
The Perfect Storm of Traffic Chaos
A recent investigation by TOI exposed the severity of the situation that has made daily commuting a painful ordeal. The narrow road now functions more like a stagnant parking lot than a traffic artery, with multiple factors converging to create perpetual gridlock throughout the day.
The problems begin right at Deo Nagar Square, where private cars and two-wheelers are routinely parked on both sides of the road, leaving barely enough width for a single lane of movement. Despite this severe constraint, heavy vehicles and delivery vans continue to force their way through, often causing complete traffic halts as drivers struggle to navigate the severely cluttered space.
Construction Woes and Reckless Parking
Ongoing construction projects in the area have significantly worsened the situation. Cranes, concrete mixers, gravel-laden trucks and labour groups occupy the roadside throughout the day, leaving almost no space for vehicles to pass safely. The presence of such heavy machinery on an already shrinking road section has turned the daily commute into a risk-prone exercise for all road users.
During peak morning and evening hours, the situation deteriorates further as vans belonging to local tuition classes arrive to pick up or drop off students. These vehicles stop abruptly and park in clearly marked no-parking zones, creating instant choke points that force two-wheelers to spill onto the opposite lane, triggering massive traffic snarls that stretch well into adjoining residential lanes.
Resident Outcry and Safety Concerns
The chaos has become unbearable for residents living along the affected stretch. Senior citizen Surekha Tambat, who resides in a house directly on the troubled road, described the relentless noise and disorder as mentally exhausting. "There's a constant traffic jam here, and even outside our house, vehicles are parked erratically," she told TOI. "The honking never stops. It has become impossible to sit on the balcony or even open the windows for fresh air."
Adding to the dangerous situation is the complete disregard for traffic rules shown by motorists themselves. Riders without helmets, drivers attempting to squeeze into every possible gap, and pedestrians forced to weave dangerously between moving vehicles create a volatile environment. At times, the traffic becomes so tightly jammed that people begin walking between vehicles stuck in the gridlock, further complicating the situation.
Official Response and Solution
A traffic police official from the Sitabuldi traffic zone suggested that citizens should utilize the Traffic Mitra app to report such snarls. "Traffic Mitra helps both the citizens and us solve such issues and streamline traffic flow. Citizens should post the complaint on Traffic Mitra, and we will take action," the cop stated, highlighting the official mechanism available for addressing these persistent traffic problems.
The combination of illegal parking, construction-related encroachments, and complete lack of enforcement has brought this busy residential-commercial stretch to a standstill, demanding immediate intervention from authorities before the situation escalates further.
