Nagpur: In a major enforcement drive aimed at reclaiming pedestrian space, the Nagpur Traffic Police penalised 4,250 offenders for encroachments and illegal parking during the 16-day ‘Mission Footpath Freedom’ campaign. The initiative, which ran from January 17 to 31, targeted hawkers and vehicle owners obstructing footpaths, forcing pedestrians onto busy roads and contributing to accidents.
With 70 pedestrian fatalities reported last year due to lack of walking space, the Traffic Department, led by DCP (Traffic) Archit Chandak, intensified efforts to clear encroachments and regulate parking. Flying squads and towing vehicles were deployed across all ten police divisions to ensure strict enforcement.
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Wednesday 05 March 2025
Major actions taken:
• 305 vehicles towed for illegal parking.
• 592 offenders booked under Sections 102 and 117 of the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA).
• 3,353 individuals penalised under Sections 122 and 177 of MVA.
Despite repeated drives, encroachments resurfaced in several areas. However, the Traffic Department, in coordination with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), continued its crackdown to maintain footpath accessibility.
Hotspots of action
Among the ten traffic zones, the Sonegaon Zone saw the highest number of violations (1,113 cases), covering busy stretches such as IT Park Road, Laxmi Nagar, and Wardha Road. Other zones with significant action included:
• Sakkardara Zone: 855 cases
• Lakadganj Zone: 430 cases
• Sadar Zone: 386 cases
• MIDC Zone: 344 cases
• Ajni Zone: 322 cases
Interestingly, no towing cases were reported from MIDC, Lakadganj, Ajni, Indora, and Kamptee zones, highlighting disparities in enforcement across different areas.
While ‘Mission Footpath Freedom’ has made a notable impact, authorities acknowledge the challenge of recurring encroachments and emphasize the need for sustained enforcement to keep the city’s walkways obstruction-free.
