Nagpur: A sustained enforcement push by the Nagpur Traffic Police has delivered measurable gains in road safety, with the city recording a sharp fall in fatal accidents and deaths in 2025 under the special drive Operation U-Turn. Official figures indicate a 25% reduction in both fatal crashes and accident-related deaths compared to 2024.
Launched to curb high-risk violations, Operation U-Turn has focused on cracking down on rash and wrong-side driving, drunk driving, and helmetless riding. Over the past several months, traffic personnel intensified checks, set up regular nakabandis, penalised offenders, and paired enforcement with public awareness campaigns. Authorities say the combined approach is now translating into safer roads.
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05 Jan 2026
Data compiled by the traffic department shows that fatalities had been on an upward trajectory for years, triggering serious concern. Fatal accidents rose from 255 in 2021 to 294 in 2022, stayed at the same level in 2023, and then climbed further to 327 in 2024. The trend reversed in 2025, with fatal accidents dropping significantly to 244.
A similar pattern is evident in the number of lives lost. Road accident deaths increased from 268 in 2021 to 310 in 2022, marginally dipped to 308 in 2023, and surged to 345 in 2024. In 2025, the toll fell to 259, marking a substantial decline.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Lohit Matani attributed the improvement to stringent action against drunk driving, frequent checkpoints, corrective measures at accident-prone locations, and sustained awareness initiatives. He stressed that continued public cooperation is key to sustaining and further improving these gains.
Officials believe that if strict enforcement and responsible driving habits continue, Nagpur could see even lower accident figures in the years ahead.
