ToI in Nagpur, Hitavada's citadel

Times of India has started has a satellite edition from Nagpur. Will it be able to make a dent into the readership of the local leader, The Hitavada?

Over the years Hitavada has grown from strength to strength and no national daily has been able to get a foothold in the Orange City. First the Indian Express tried unsuccessfully and had to shut the shop. Later on Hindustan Times tried its best but the paper just didn't pick up and remained at a mere 5,000-6,000.

However, after HT's arrival, Hitavada's circulation went up to 40,000. Eventually HT withdrew and decided to go to Mumbai so as to make it more acceptable to Marathi reader. Now ToI, has decided to expand its readership and go to Nagpur. For over a century this paper has been published from Mumbai but they never went to Nagpur. This time also it seems Times is just experimenting. At Rs 1.5, a satellite edition with some staff in Nagpur, the paper has begun publication.