From cake to concrete, Wagh gives road safety gift to self on birthday
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Nagpur: Instead of cake and candles, Raju Wagh chose gravel and tar to mark his birthday on Monday by fixing a dangerous stretch of road near Shivanagar Phata that caused multiple accidents.
Launching the 'Maza Rasta Maza Mitra' (My Road, My Friend) campaign, Wagh celebrated his special day by turning a risky road into a safer one, setting an example in civic responsibility.Wagh, who is also a non-official member of the
National Road Safety Council
(under the union ministry of transport), began the 15-day awareness drive on his birthday. The campaign will continue until May 27, the birthday of Union minister Nitin Gadkari. The idea, says Wagh, is simple but powerful.
"The roads we use every day should be treated like friends. If I fix a pothole that could cause an accident, not only am I safe, but so is everyone else. That's friendship," he explained.Inaugurated by senior police inspector Arvind Maharshi from the traffic department's accident cell, the campaign saw immediate action.
Deadly potholes were filled with a gravel-tar mix, shoulder areas were levelled, and warning boards were installed at accident-prone spots. Wagh pledged to tackle minor issues with public support and push authorities to resolve larger infrastructural problems. "If every citizen takes responsibility for the roads they regularly use, we can prevent tragedies and save lives," he said.The initiative received active support from local residents, volunteers, and traffic officials. Inspector Maharshi lauded the effort, calling it 'inspiring' and promised continued support from the traffic department. Wagh's campaign has turned personal responsibility into a community-driven mission — one road at a time.
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