In a joint operation following a fatal road accident on November 3, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) launched a day-long anti-encroachment drive on Friday, demolishing 70 to 80 unauthorised permanent commercial sheds along the congested Godhani Road, Zingabai Takli, and Tower Road stretch. The coordinated crackdown was set in motion following directives issued by Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar during a high-level review meeting on November 5. Civic squads mobilised from all ten municipal zones joined forces with Central Enforcement Squad No 2 to reclaim Government road space and remove illegal commercial structures eating into mandatory building setbacks. Armed with JCB earthmovers and supported by heavy police bandobast, nearly 50 to 60 enforcement officials cleared road margins and footpaths on both flanks of the busy corridor. Despite aggressive resistance from 40 to 50 local hawkers and shopkeepers in the afternoon, the squad pressed ahead with police assistance, tearing down encroachments, impounding four handcarts, and confiscating a full truckload of seized merchandise.

 

“To protect their structures, shop owners and house owners sat on their encroached land, which was forcefully cleared by the police personnel and the enforcement team,” said Assistant Municipal Commissioner (Enforcement) Sanjay Kamble. The city-wide enforcement operation was executed under the leadership of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Enforcement) Mangesh Khawale, Sanjay Kamble, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Mangalwari Zone) Ashok Garate, and Deputy Engineer Prashant Nihare.

 

Heavy vehicles banned on Godhani Rd from 6 am to 10 pm Acting to curb severe traffic congestion and prevent fatal accidents on the arterial corridor, the Nagpur City Police Traffic Department has prohibited the movement of heavy commercial vehicles on Godhani Road until further orders. As per a notification issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar, under Sections 115, 116, and 117 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the ban on heavy vehicles will remain in effect daily from 6 am to 10 pm starting November 6. The restriction aims to provide safe transit for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, particularly during peak market and shopping hours.