Home / Crime and Justice / Nagpur Traffic Cops Overwhelmed: 20 Lakh Vehicles, 520 Officers
Nagpur Traffic Cops Overwhelmed: 20 Lakh Vehicles, 520 Officers
20 Feb
Summary
- Only 520 traffic cops manage over 20 lakh vehicles daily.
- Sanctioned strength is 843, but many are absent weekly.
- 36.22 lakh population faces traffic issues with minimal enforcement.
Nagpur's traffic policing system is critically understaffed, struggling to manage an ever-increasing number of vehicles. With over 20 lakh vehicles on the roads daily, a mere 520 traffic personnel are available to manage operations across 171 signalized junctions for a population of 36.22 lakh.
The traffic branch officially has approval for 59 officers and 784 personnel, but the actual working strength is significantly lower. A substantial portion of the staff is unavailable daily due to routine offs and leave, further compounded by frequent security deployments. This leaves approximately 520 officers to handle the daily traffic chaos.
Effective enforcement requires at least 900 traffic personnel for a city of Nagpur's size. Currently, only 50 junctions have regular supervision with minimal staff. A significant number of officer positions, 29 out of 59, remain vacant, weakening oversight. Additionally, 72 personnel are assigned to office duties, reducing field strength.
The consequences are apparent in daily traffic violations such as helmetless riding, triple-seat travel, and signal jumping. The overwhelming vehicle-to-officer ratio makes sustained enforcement nearly impossible. The situation is exacerbated during VIP movements and major city events, when personnel are diverted for other duties, leaving road discipline as a distant goal for commuters.
