Nagpur: Panic and confusion gripped commuters late Tuesday night on the Samruddhi Mahamarg after several vehicles were forced to stop suddenly with punctured tyres. Many feared it to be a miscreants’ trap for robberies when rows of sharp nails were found hammered into the road surface on a bridge. However, it was later clarified that the nails had been fixed by a road construction company carrying out repair work in the area.

A video of the incident, now viral on social media, shows traffic moving cautiously from an adjoining lane while rows of nails remain embedded on the bridge. Motorists expressed shock over the absence of barricades or warning signage and criticised the timing of the repair activity, which was undertaken at night.

According to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the nails were part of an ongoing grouting process, where material is passed through the nails during roadwork. Officials clarified that two lanes were operational during the work, while the lane under repairs had been barricaded. However, a motorist reportedly broke through the barricade and drove into the work zone, leading to a puncture. This incident caused confusion and subsequently resulted in a few more vehicles getting punctured.

Authorities stressed that there was no robbery attempt and appealed to commuters to avoid spreading misinformation. The clarification has been widely circulated in commuter groups to put an end to the rumours.

Commuters, however, maintained that the situation highlighted the urgent need for stricter safety measures and better communication on repair works. Many pointed out that sudden tyre punctures on the high-speed expressway could easily lead to severe accidents or fatalities. They have urged MSRDC to ensure fool-proof protocols during maintenance activities to prevent such lapses in future.