The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) intensive anti-encroachment campaign under ‘Mission 100 Days’ is facing a major challenge as illegal hawkers are rapidly returning to roads and footpaths shortly after eviction drives are carried out.
What began as an operation targeting 43 locations was later expanded to 49 key traffic congestion points after authorities identified additional bottlenecks disrupting vehicular movement and pedestrian access.
All 10 zonal offices were directed to clear at least 5km stretches of roads and footpaths, taking the total target area to nearly 50km across the city. Along with regular daytime action, several zones also conducted night-time drives to remove vendors and temporary roadside structures that often resurface after sunset.
The campaign, which starts early in the morning and continues till late at night, has seen continuous action in areas under Dharampeth, Laxmi Nagar, and Gandhibagh zones since the last week of April. Anti-encroachment squads, police personnel, and confiscation vehicles have been deployed regularly in these areas.
Despite daily operations in major commercial hubs, hawkers continue to reclaim roads and footpaths, highlighting the limitations of enforcement-only measures.
Officials informally acknowledged that the issue is not limited to eviction but also involves maintaining long-term control in busy commercial zones with heavy public movement.
Residents and commuters have largely welcomed the drive, especially in crowded market areas where handcarts, roadside stalls, and temporary sheds frequently block footpaths. However, many observed that the relief is temporary, as encroachments return soon after enforcement teams move out.
In several neighbourhoods, vendors displaced from main roads have shifted to adjoining internal lanes, creating new congestion problems.
Amit Sharma, a shopkeeper from Itwari, said illegal vending has increased significantly on smaller roads within the market locality.
“On Sundays, one cannot even ride a two-wheeler properly through several lanes because vendors occupy the roads,” Sharma said.
Officials associated with the drive said maintaining constant monitoring across all identified stretches remains a difficult task due to the large scale of encroachments and the recurring return of vendors.
The crackdown gained momentum after the return of the elected general body following four years of administrator rule, with civic authorities focusing on improving traffic flow and restoring pedestrian spaces.
For now, anti-encroachment squads continue large-scale operations across Nagpur, but the repeated return of hawkers reflects the continuing challenge of keeping roads and footpaths permanently free from encroachments.
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