NAGPUR — As private venue costs skyrocket across the city, a growing number of residents are opting to host weddings, receptions, and birthday celebrations on public roads, turning carriageways into makeshift event spaces. The result: widespread traffic disruption and mounting civic concerns.
According to data from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), nearly 40% of all road-blocking violations in the city over the past seven years are linked to the unauthorized erection of mandaps and pandals on public roads. From December 11, 2017, to April 30, 2025, the NMC’s Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS) registered 1,11,529 cases of road obstruction, with 44,612 of them involving unauthorized celebratory structures.
The civic body currently imposes a ₹1,000 fine per violation. Over the reporting period, this led to total penalty collections of ₹13.07 crore — of which an estimated ₹4.46 crore came solely from mandap-related infractions.
What’s driving this trend? Primarily cost-saving, say officials. “Many residents, particularly in densely populated areas, are opting for public roads over expensive private lawns or banquet halls,” said a senior NMC official. “These structures often appear overnight, causing hours or even days of obstruction — especially during peak wedding and festive seasons.”
Zone-wise enforcement data reveals that the problem is widespread:
- Dharampeth zone recorded the highest number of cases at 15,157
- Gandhibagh followed with 14,470
- Mangalwari reported 12,925
- Ashi Nagar wasn’t far behind at 12,653
Even more affluent areas such as Laxmi Nagar and Hanuman Nagar reported over 11,000 cases each, indicating that this cost-cutting trend transcends income levels.
Authorities are now sounding the alarm over the apparent normalization of these violations. “Many residents view the ₹1,000 fine as a nominal ‘rental fee’ for the road, rather than a deterrent,” the official added. “This undermines the law and creates recurring enforcement challenges.”
In response to the growing issue, Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has ordered the NDS to intensify enforcement and launch public awareness campaigns, particularly as the summer wedding season approaches. Among proposed actions are steeper fines and legal measures targeting repeat offenders.
As Nagpur grapples with this trend, city officials are under pressure to balance community celebration with public order — and reclaim the streets for what they were originally intended: traffic flow, not dance floors.
