Private buses banned on city roads from 8am to 10pm to ease traffic congestion
The month-long order, effective from August 13 to September 12, 2025, is part of an effort of ease traffic congestion, especially during peak hours.
The city's narrow roads struggle under the load of nearly 20 lakh two-wheelers and 5 lakh four-wheelers. Long-distance buses add to the chaos by halting illegally, choking junctions, and endangering pedestrians. Deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) Lohit Matani, in the August 12 order, listed key trouble spots — Central Avenue, Variety Square, Cotton Market, Sneh Nagar Bus Stop, Rahate Colony Square, Great Nag Road near the central bus stand, Dighori Square, Automotive Square, and Indora Square — where buses routinely stop without authorisation.
Many buses lack designated parking or pick-up points, and due to their large size and wide turning radius, boarding and alighting of passengers often obstruct traffic, heightening risk of accidents. While operators like Saini, Mahatma, Baba, Sawan, Maa Durga, and Khurana Travels have their own premises and some use pay-and-park facilities, a large number of buses run without proper arrangements, resulting in widespread illegal parking.
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This causes significant inconvenience to local residents and daily commuters, including office-goers.
A traffic police study shows heavy daily bus movement across major routes — 642 on Wardha–Yavatmal–Chandrapur, 190 on Amravati–Pune–Nashik, 78 on Koradi–Chhindwara, 296 on Jabalpur–Bhopal–Indore, 92 on Bhandara–Gondia–Chhattisgarh, and 308 on Bramhapuri–Gadchiroli via Umred Road. Authorities have stressed that all such services should operate from outside the city limits, while passengers can use Metro, taxis, auto-rickshaws and other transport options to reach these hubs.
Operators have seven days to alter routes, update booking portals and shift pick-up and drop-off points outside the Inner Ring Road unless they own authorised premises. Violations will be prosecuted under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Matani has appealed for cooperation from operators and commuters, calling the move vital to "minimise inconvenience and ensure smooth traffic movement" during the busy pre-festival period.
# Exemptions for...
MSRTC buses at official depots, buses transporting Mihan and MIDC employees with prior permission
Wedding and private function buses with approval, as well as ambulances, emergency vehicles
School buses, special services for senior citizens, women and devotional tourism
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