The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday orally directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Police and Dhantoli Nagarik Madal to jointly find a solution to the growing traffic congestion in Dhantoli, Congress Nagar and Ramdaspeth. The court also raised concern over unauthorised hospital constructions and the commercial use of parking spaces. A division bench of Justice Anil S Kilor and Justice Raj D Wakode instructed the DCP Traffic to submit a detailed report within two weeks with the proposed solutions. The court further directed the NMC to issue show-cause notices to hospitals found encroaching on parking spaces and charging commercial rates. 

 

 

During the hearing, the High Court observed that misuse of hospital parking areas for commercial purposes was not limited to Dhantoli, Congress Nagar and Ramdaspeth but was visible across the city. The bench questioned why violators in these areas should not be penalised at four times the commercial rate. The court also asked why those found guilty in the committee report, submitted after inspection, should not be charged commercial penalty for one year. The court noted that a notification issued earlier by the Assistant Commissioner of Police Traffic regarding parking in Dhantoli was not being followed properly. Meanwhile, the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) submitted a table before the court regarding penalty rent, assuming certain constructions to be around ten years old at two different locations. 

 

 

Taking serious note of the situation, the High Court ordered the Municipal Corporation, Traffic Police and Dhantoli Nagarik Mandal to sit together and work out a practical solution to the persistent traffic and parking problems. 

 

‘We want solution’

 

Expressing concern over public inconvenience, the court orally observed that ambulances are often forced to stop in the middle of the road due to congestion, leading to traffic blockages and hardship to patients and citizens. “We want a solution to all these issues. It is your duty to find one. Tell us what solution you are working on,” the bench told the NMC and the DCP Traffic. Advocate Ashwin Deshpande appeared for the Nagarik Mandal, Advocate Gemini Kasat represented the Municipal Corporation, and Advocate Deepak Thakre argued on behalf of the government. The matter is expected to come up after the traffic police submit their report within two weeks.