Nagpur: Nagpur’s roads have become noticeably safer in the first five months of 2026, with the city recording a significant decline in both road accidents and fatalities, a trend that police officials attribute largely to the sustained implementation of the ambitious ‘Operation U-Turn’ road safety campaign.

According to data released by Nagpur City Police, the city reported 465 road accidents between January and May 2026, compared to 549 accidents during the corresponding period last year, reflecting a reduction of 84 accidents. More importantly, fatal accidents and road crash deaths have also witnessed a marked decline.

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Of the 465 accidents reported this year, 96 were fatal, whereas 132 fatal accidents were recorded during the same period in 2025. The number of lives lost in road mishaps has also fallen from 142 deaths last year to 103 deaths this year, indicating encouraging progress in the city’s battle against traffic-related fatalities.

Police officials credit the improvement to Operation U-Turn, a citywide road safety initiative launched in July 2025 under the leadership of Dr Ravinder Singal, Commissioner of Police. The programme was conceived as a comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of road accidents through a combination of enforcement, engineering interventions and public awareness.

Since its launch, the campaign has focused on changing driver behaviour, tightening traffic enforcement and improving compliance with road safety norms. Authorities describe the initiative as one of the most extensive accident-prevention drives undertaken in Nagpur in recent years.

Several targeted measures have played a crucial role in the campaign’s success. These include restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles during peak traffic hours, intensified action against drunk driving, strict enforcement of helmet and seat-belt regulations, round-the-clock nakabandi operations, installation of speed-calming measures at more than 300 locations and a crackdown on underage, reckless and negligent drivers.

Encouraged by the positive results, the Traffic Department plans to further strengthen the initiative. Aditya Mirkhelkar, who recently took charge as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), has reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the programme through greater use of technology, focused interventions at accident-prone stretches and increased citizen participation.

Officials said the next phase of Operation U-Turn will emphasize data-driven policing, intelligent traffic management systems and community engagement to sustain the downward trend in accidents and make Nagpur’s roads even safer.