What should be a routine five-minute drop-off at Nagpur Railway Station is increasingly turning into a prolonged and stressful ordeal for commuters, with repeated complaints of traffic congestion, overcharging and alleged harassment at the car-to-coach access parking near Platform No. 8. In a complaint submitted to senior Central Railway officials, a commuter alleged that vehicles were trapped inside the parking facility for nearly 90 minutes due to severe congestion at the exit gate. The blockage was attributed to poor traffic regulation and mismanagement by the private contractor operating the pay-and-park facility. Commuters say, such incidents are common during peak train hours, festival seasons and departure of premium trains. Motorists entering the parking area within the stipulated free or minimum parking period often find themselves unable to exit on time because of bottlenecks caused by inadequate staffing and unplanned vehicle movement. When delays escalate, parking staff allegedly demand overstay charges, even when congestion is beyond the commuter’s control. Several passengers have complained that objections are met with hostility, with exit barriers allegedly kept shut until payment is made.

 

 

Following the complaint received on December 31, the Commercial Branch of Nagpur Division conducted an inquiry into the matter. In an official communication dated January 9, 2026, the Divisional Railway Manager’s (DRM) office confirmed that the complaint was examined by Railway authorities and that, based on inspection findings, a penalty was imposed on the contractor by the competent authority. The contractor has also been issued strict instructions to ensure that such incidents do not recur and has been directed to conduct parking operations in a smooth, orderly and efficient manner at all times. 

 

 

Regular station users, however, point out that the issue has persisted for months, if not years, despite repeated complaints. “The congestion pattern is predictable, yet nothing changes. The burden is always passed on to commuters,” said a frequent rail traveller, echoing a sentiment shared by many station visitors. In the complaint, the commuter cited financial loss due to forced payments and fuel wastage, along with mental distress caused by prolonged confinement and alleged aggressive behaviour by the staff. The incident has renewed questions over monitoring by Railway authorities, enforcement of contract conditions and the absence of an effective on-ground grievance redressal mechanism. As passenger footfall continues to rise, commuters warn that, without sustained oversight, mismanagement at station parking facilities risks becoming routine rather than exceptional.