Nagpur: In a recurring battle against the persistent problems of parking chaos and severe traffic congestion, residents of Dhantoli have once again sought legal intervention by approaching the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. The Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal, represented by counsel Tejas Deshpande, presented their case before a division bench comprising Justice Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri.
The primary contention put forth by the Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal revolves around the misuse of parking areas by numerous hospitals in Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth. According to the petitioner, these medical facilities are allegedly utilizing their designated parking spaces for purposes other than parking, such as running pharmacy stores, laundry services, installing oxygen plants, creating chambers, and establishing waiting areas for patients. This, in turn, forces visitors to park their vehicles on the roads, leading to severe traffic congestion and chaos in the narrow lanes of both areas.
Gold Rate
Tuesday25 Feb. 2025
The situation has escalated due to the transformation of Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth into medical hubs over the past decade and a half, witnessing an influx of hospitals and other commercial establishments, including coaching classes and food joints.
Expressing concern over the prevailing issues, the division bench directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Additional Commissioner, responsible for enforcement, to submit an affidavit outlining the proposed actions to address the problem. The bench specifically sought information on the mode and manner in which the local planning authority intends to tackle the issue and the steps proposed for the removal of unauthorized and illegal structures erected in parking areas within a specified time frame.
NMC’s counsel, Sudhir Puranik, informed the court that previous encroachments and illegal constructions in parking areas had been removed. However, he acknowledged that hospital owners had initiated reconstructions, warranting immediate attention and appropriate action.
The petitioner’s counsel highlighted another concern related to the lack of enforcement despite police authorities declaring the area a no-parking zone and implementing a one-way road system. Additional Government Pleader Deepak Thakre, representing the Commissioner of Police, assured the court that he would present a detailed record of the steps taken by the police authorities to enforce the notification issued on August 11, 2017. This record would include statistics on actions taken against violators from the date of issuance until the present.
The court has scheduled the next hearing to review the responses and actions proposed by the NMC and the police authorities, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the ongoing parking and traffic issues in Dhantoli and Ramdaspeth.
