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Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
Odisha's Ganja Syndicate Now Sets Sight on Akola
Nagpur: The tentacles of Odisha's marijuana mafia seem to have penetrated deep into Akola, crossing almost 1,000km inside Vidarbha. After Nagpur Police's fight against narcotics syndicates through 'Operation Thunder', Akola cops have started thwarting the advances of the marijuana mafia from the eastern coast. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Between May 25 and June 28, Akola police have seized marijuana (ganja) worth around Rs13 lakh, undertaking their flagship dedicated programme under 'Mission Prahaar'. This marijuana originated from Odisha, said a source in Akola police. Akola SP Archit Chandak said there was a focused drive against drug peddlers who mostly deal with the narcotics suppliers from Odisha. "Though MD's prevalence is much lower, there is a considerable challenge now to make the district drug-free," said Chandak, whose team also cracked down on illegal arms. "We are focusing on the backward and forward linkages to break the narcotics syndicate and especially break the supply chains from Odisha," said the SP. "Apart from our drives to break supply line and their local nexuses, we have also undertaken a dedicated awareness campaign to create a drug-resistance psychology," said Chandak, adding 143 gambling dens were busted while 121 liquor raids were also conducted. Chandak said Akola police got signatures from 15,000 persons in just a couple of weeks who pledged against narcotics and substance abuse. "We are engaging student community through a drawing competition and 50 of the best anti-narcotics and anti-drug paintings by children will be displayed at the SP office," he said. Apart from narcotics, Akola police, in 35 days, have registered 30 cases against bovine smugglers and illegal slaughterhouses, rescuing animals and seizing materials worth Rs2.65 crore.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Day 1: No parking trouble for shoppers on Sitabuldi Road
1 2 Nagpur: On the first day of two-side parking introduced on the bustling Sitabuldi main road, the street witnessed orderly traffic than most parts of the city. With vendors removed, the street got relief from the chaos it had been witnessing for decades. Police also managed the crowd and shoppers parked their vehicles at designated locations. On the other hand, the Sitabuldi hawkers are yet to set up their shops on the space allocated to them near Maharajbagh DP Road. NMC recently removed hawkers from Sitabuldi main road after a sustained crack down. The action was followed by the traffic department, under DCP (traffic) Archit Chandak, issuing a notification allowing parking on both sides of the busy road. TOI on Monday spotted two-wheelers and four-wheelers parked along the Sitabuldi Main Road, with a vehicle of traffic police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) stationed at the spot. "I have never seen Sitabuldi so open and orderly. We were able to park our four-wheeler on the road and later went shopping. Earlier, we used to come by taxi or park vehicles in other nearby areas before walking to the Sitabuldi market," said Shruti Patil, who visited a shop with her family members. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Descubra o suplemento natural que está transformando rotinas AlwaysFit Undo The sentiment was echoed by other shoppers too. Meanwhile, NMC carried out road signage work, marking white lines on the road to provide a clear space for parking. "I could not believe that I was in Sitabuldi. There was no usual disturbance from the hawkers to visit their stalls," said another shopper. Hawkers opposed to shifting The Sitabuldi hawkers have refused to shift to the spot allotted near the Maharajbagh DP Road. "No shoppers will come there as it is a highway. In 2009, we had moved to the same location but returned later," said a member of the hawkers association . Meanwhile, a delegation of hawkers from Sitabuldi also presented their grievances to Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday at NMC headquarters. After listening to their concerns, Gadkari clarified that the matter is sub judice and instructed the NMC commissioner to proceed as per legal guidelines.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
800 private buses choke Nagpur roads, cops mull ban on entry
1 2 Nagpur: The already strained road infrastructure of the city is being pushed to the brink by over 800 private buses operating daily from within city limits. These buses, many of which travel to destinations in neighbouring states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Telangana, as well as to cities like Pune, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli, are clogging key intersections and thoroughfares, severely disrupting urban mobility. From Baidyanath Chowk, Cotton Market Square, and Chhatrapati Square to busy arteries like Residency Road in Sadar and Central Avenue, the impact is visible every day, particularly during morning and evening peak hours, according to a study by city traffic police under deputy commissioner of police Archit Chandak and assistant commissioner of police Madhuri Baviskar. Squares like Geetanjali, Telephone Exchange, Automotive, Indora, Bole Petrol Pump, Ravi Nagar, and Campus are among the worst affected, with private buses halting right on the road to pick up and drop off passengers. "This constant obstruction leads to severe traffic snarls and poses a major hazard to commuters," a senior traffic official said. The situation is particularly grim at squares such as Manas Chowk, Liberty Chowk, Sneha Nagar Chowk, and Jagnade Chowk, as private buses peak passengers during office hours. City traffic police, flooded with complaints from commuters and motorists, have now submitted a comprehensive report to CP Ravinder Singal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Audiologists: New $159 German Hearing Aids Sweeping Australia risinghealthtrends Learn More Undo The report, based on a study conducted across all 10 traffic zones, confirms that more than 800 private buses are operating from within Nagpur's urban area, most without any fixed bus terminals or designated halting zones. "These buses are illegally using busy squares and roadsides as makeshift terminals," the official added. "They halt for long durations, causing traffic jams, especially near commercial hubs." In response, CP Ravindar Singal is now considering barring the entry of private buses within city limits altogether. "The aim is to decongest city roads and ensure smoother traffic flow," a senior police source confirmed, adding that discussions are underway to possibly divert these buses to the outskirts or to designated bus depots outside the congested zones. The move is expected to face resistance from private bus operators, but civic and police authorities believe it is necessary for long-term urban transport reform. With traffic chaos escalating daily, enforcement action appears to be the only solution. Unless urgent steps are taken, commuters fear that Nagpur's roads could soon reach a tipping point — crippled not by increasing cars, but by the unchecked sprawl of private bus operations. In the past too, similar bans were proposed but the city administration failed to implement the diktat to restrict entry of private buses inside city limits. HOTSPOTS OF CHAOS Nagpur's Most Congested Squares Due to Private Buses: - Baidyanath Chowk - Cotton Market Square - Chhatrapati Square - Residency Road - Central Avenue - Geetanjali, Indora, Automotive, Bole Petrol Pump, Campus, Telephone Exchange Squares - Sneha Nagar, Liberty Chowk, Manas Chowk, Jagnade Chowk **Where Are These Buses Going?** Destinations Served by Private Buses from Nagpur: - Inter-state: MP, Chhattisgarh, UP, Telangana, Gujarat - Intra-state: Pune, Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, etc. **What Happens If Bus Entry into City Is Banned?** - **Extra Travel Burden on Passengers:** People travelling to the city will be dropped at depots located outside municipal limits. They will then have to arrange separate transport to reach the city centre, hospitals, markets, or offices, causing major inconvenience. - **Increased Travel Cost:** Commuters will end up spending more on auto-rickshaws, cabs, or city buses just to get into town, effectively making their affordable ST journey expensive. - **Impact on Emergency and Senior Citizens:** Elderly passengers, women with children, and those seeking urgent medical services will suffer the most, as they will have to walk longer distances or make multiple vehicle changes to reach hospitals or clinics in the city.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Traffic police reinforce speed limit across city
Nagpur: In a continued push to improve road safety and curb the alarming number of accident-related fatalities, the Nagpur Traffic Police issued fresh speed limit directives for two-wheelers and four-wheelers operating on highways, city roads, and in areas under the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The enforcement came into effect on May 11 and will remain active until June 10, per the notification issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Archit Chandak, private four-wheelers are now restricted to a maximum speed of 40 km/hr within city limits and 60 km/hr on highways. Two-wheelers are capped at 50 km/hr in the city and 60 km/hr on highways. The speed limits are part of a broader effort based on accident analysis and road usage data, aimed at minimising the risks posed by rash driving, particularly in accident-prone zones like curves, signals, and high-density urban enforcement is guided by state-level directives issued by the Additional Director General of Police (Traffic), Maharashtra, underlining that a 10% reduction in average vehicle speed can significantly bring down road fatalities. The press note refers to studies indicating that speeding is one of the primary causes of fatal accidents, especially where turns, slopes, and signal points are the regulations themselves are not new, the emphasis on strict compliance reflects a sharpened focus by traffic authorities on ensuring that city roads are safer for both riders and pedestrians. The notification also highlights categories of vehicles such as passenger cars, motorcycles, tempos, and trucks, each with clearly defined speed limits based on road type — whether it is a divided highway, ghat section, or single-lane urban the police department has invited citizens to submit suggestions or objections during the enforcement period. Any valid feedback received will be reviewed before subsequent notifications are have appealed to all vehicle owners and drivers to adhere strictly to the speed regulations, warning that non-compliance will attract penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Traffic Cops Renew Footpath Freedom Drive, 2,233 Evicted In Five Days
1 2 Nagpur: The traffic department of the city police has once again intensified their Footpath Freedom drive and took actions against 2,233 encroachments and illegal parking across all 10 zones of traffic police in city. These actions were taken between May 6 and traffic department launched the Footpath Freedom drive on January 17 this year following several complaints of encroachment and illegal parking on city footpaths, which led to accidents as pedestrians were forced to walk on the streets. The issue was also raised multiple times by Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Following this, the traffic department, under DCP (Traffic) Archit Chandak, launched the Footpath Freedom drive. By May 5, the traffic department took around 20,447 actions. However, encroachments on footpaths started again, so the traffic department intensified their drive once of all ten traffic zones, the highest number of actions were taken in the Sitabuldi zone (469), followed by Sadar (349) and Sakkardara (296). Interestingly, the Indora and MIDC traffic zones reported the least number of actions, with 100 each. The traffic department has warned encroachers, hawkers, and citizens involved in illegal parking on footpaths that strict action would be taken against them under relevant sections of the to citizens, every time the traffic department or Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials take action against the encroachers, they flee but return after officials leave. In the recent actions, the traffic department targeted areas such as Sitabuldi market, collector office road, VCA Square, multiple locations in Sadar, Railway Station Road, Tukdoji Square, Jadu Mahal Road, and other locations in the city. The traffic department also used bulldozers to remove permanent encroachments. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
