Last Updated:July 10, 2025, 13:45 IST
Every evening, a road in Jabalpur shuts for two hours, giving locals a peaceful, traffic-free space to walk, jog, and reconnect with nature
Exercise swings installed along the road encourage a mix of light workouts and social interaction. (Local18)
Imagine a road in India that closes to all traffic for two hours each evening, not due to a VIP visit, security threat, or maintenance, but to let people walk, breathe, and connect with nature in peace. In a world of traffic chaos and honking horns, this daily ‘curfew’ has become a blessing for the health-conscious residents of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Local 18 visited the scene to uncover why Shakti Bhawan Road has become one of the most peaceful and inspiring places in the state.
The Two-Hour ‘Curfew’ For Wellness
Shakti Bhawan Road in Rampur, Jabalpur, is perhaps the only road in Madhya Pradesh where a daily two-hour vehicle curfew is strictly enforced. From 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, all traffic is halted. The reason? So that city residents can enjoy a one-kilometre stretch of traffic-free road to walk, jog, and exercise without fear or stress.
Barricades are placed by security staff at precisely 6:30 pm, transforming the road into a pedestrian-friendly zone. Locals of all ages, from schoolchildren to pensioners, come to walk, run, and stretch.
Exercise swings installed along the road encourage a mix of light workouts and social interaction.
Locals Share Their Experience
A regular visitor said he’s been running and doing leg exercises and push-ups here for two months. The lack of vehicles allows him to wear earbuds safely without worrying about traffic; a luxury not available elsewhere in the city.
Another user who has been using the road for evening walks since 1992, praises the peaceful atmosphere. He says the environment here is unmatched, even better than any public garden, and the road provides a rare escape from city noise.
Role Of The Authorities
Although the road is under the jurisdiction of the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board (MPEB), it has become a public wellness hub. According to Road Safety Inspector Sanjay Singh, the route connects Shakti Bhawan to Nagpur Road via Jalpari and the IT Park.
Each evening, around 400 to 500 people from all across Jabalpur come here to exercise, socialise, and enjoy nature. The road closure is now a daily routine, with diversions in place and public support behind the initiative.
Road Safety Inspector Sanjay Singh adds that while asserting official control over the road is important, the priority has always been to support its role as a much-loved fitness zone.
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- Location :
Jabalpur, India, India
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