Despite repeated directives from the Bombay High Court, unauthorised pandals and shamianas continue to occupy roads and lanes across Nagpur, effectively converting public streets into private event spaces. Weddings, birthday celebrations, and house-warming ceremonies are frequently held on roads, causing severe traffic congestion and forcing residents to take long detours. Emergency services such as ambulances and fire brigades also face dangerous delays when streets are blocked without permission.
Earlier, temporary event structures required prior approval from civic authorities, granted only after ensuring that traffic movement would not be affected and neighbours had no objections. Following court orders, such permissions were withdrawn entirely, yet violations have increased rather than declined.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorised its Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS) to take action and doubled penalties from ?1,000 to ?2,000 per day. Enforcement statistics show dozens of cases each month and fines running into several lakhs, but the uneven distribution of action across zones has raised concerns about selective enforcement.
Along with illegal occupation of roads, many events also involve unauthorised electricity connections drawn directly from nearby poles, leading to large-scale power theft. This has drawn criticism of the monitoring mechanisms of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), which has been unable to effectively curb the practice.
NDS chief Veersen Tambe reiterated that roads cannot be obstructed under any circumstances, but violations continue. Observers warn that unless strict and uniform enforcement is implemented, the growing trend of using public roads for private functions will continue to inconvenience residents, disrupt traffic, and weaken civic discipline.
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