The Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Mahamarg, a crucial expressway connecting Maharashtra’s capital to its third-largest city, has witnessed a concerning surge in traffic violations. In 2024 alone, authorities fined 11,657 offenders for flouting various traffic rules, highlighting a significant disregard for road safety on this high-speed corridor.
Nagpur City RTO Enforcement
The Nagpur City Regional Transport Office (RTO) took stringent action against 6,982 vehicles for multiple infractions:
- Helmet violations: 2,556 cases (most common offense)
- Over-speeding: 1,519 instances
- Seat-belt violations: 146 drivers penalized
- Mobile phone usage while driving: 115 cases
An additional 2,388 violations were recorded for offenses such as wrong lane driving, illegal parking, and other rule breaches.
Nagpur Rural RTO Crackdown
The Nagpur Rural RTO issued fines to 4,675 offenders, with over-speeding being the primary concern:
- Over-speeding: 673 drivers caught
- Wrong lane driving: 74 instances
- Drunk driving: 7 cases
Implications and Concerns
These violations raise serious safety concerns on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, which is designed for high-speed travel. Officials emphasize that such behavior significantly increases the risk of severe accidents, particularly given the expressway’s design for speeds up to 120 kmph on flat terrain and 100 kmph in hilly areas.
An RTO official stressed the dangers of helmetless riding, noting its potential to cause severe injuries in accidents. Similarly, over-speeding on expressways can lead to catastrophic crashes, while wrong lane driving poses a risk of fatal head-on collisions.
Call for Action
Authorities are urging motorists to prioritize safety and adhere to traffic rules. With thousands of vehicles using the expressway daily, there’s a pressing need for increased vigilance and public awareness about road safety.
The alarming violation rates underscore the necessity for continued enforcement efforts and potentially stricter penalties to ensure the safety of all users on this vital transportation link between Nagpur and Mumbai.
