Nagpur: In a significant improvement, road accidents and fatalities in Nagpur have witnessed a decline in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. As per data from Nagpur City Police, accident cases between January 25 and March 25, 2025 dropped by 22.22%, while fatalities reduced by 18%.
Comparative Analysis:
• January 24 -March 24, 2024: 99 accidents, 100 deaths
• January 25 -March 25, 2025: 77 accidents, 81 deaths
The reduction is being attributed to proactive traffic management and the ‘Footpath Freedom Campaign’ conceptualised by Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal and led by DCP Traffic Archit Chandak, which gained widespread support earlier this year. The initiative focused on clearing illegal parking and encroachments on sidewalks, helping to improve pedestrian safety and reduce accident risks.
Pedestrian Safety Still a Concern:
Despite the overall decline in accidents, pedestrian fatalities remain a serious issue. In the last 15 months, every third road fatality in Nagpur involved a pedestrian. In 2024 alone, the city recorded 1,257 road accidents, resulting in 345 deaths, of which 104 victims (30%) were pedestrians.
Between January 1 and March 28, 2024, 27 pedestrians lost their lives, highlighting the persistent dangers they face due to ongoing construction work, encroachments, lack of traffic monitoring at key intersections, and human error.
While the recent decline in accidents is encouraging, authorities emphasize the need for continued efforts to ensure safer roads for all, particularly for pedestrians.
