Nagpur: The festive spirit of Mahalaxmi and Ganesh celebrations on Monday night quickly turned into a nightmare for thousands of citizens, as South Nagpur was brought to a standstill by massive traffic jams and blocked roads. Consistent rains since evening only worsened the misery, leaving commuters stranded for hours in an endless gridlock.
With families thronging the streets in four-wheelers to visit friends and relatives, arterial roads from Dighori, Manewada, Tukdoji Putla Square, Ayodhya Nagar, Sakkardara, Raghuji Nagar, Chhota Tajbag, to Mhalgi Nagar Square witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic crawling at a snail’s pace. Essential supplies were delayed, and daily commuters bore the brunt of the chaos.
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18 Aug 2025
Traffic cops were seen struggling at a few key junctions, but the absence of personnel across most parts of the city left citizens fending for themselves. Residential lanes too became choked, as two-wheelers and cars tried to sneak through shortcuts, creating jams even in otherwise calm neighbourhoods. Frustrated drivers eventually parked their vehicles on the roadside, waiting for hours until the congestion eased.
The jam lasted till late night, with no concrete measures in sight. Citizens fumed that this scenario repeats every year on the second day of Mahalaxmi, yet the administration continues to turn a blind eye. Despite repeated experiences of total road collapse, there is little evidence of planning, coordination, or proactive deployment by civic and traffic authorities.
The festival that symbolizes prosperity and joy ended up exposing the sheer negligence and apathy of Nagpur’s traffic management machinery.
