Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway grinds to a halt amidst Maratha quota protest

Traffic hit on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway/ Nimesh Dave

Traffic congestion plagued the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Friday morning; the congestion was witnessed from Versova Bridge to Vasai. The situation was exacerbated by traffic diversion of the Eastern Express Highway to Western Express Highway as Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil led protestors to head towards Mumbai seeking reservations.

Adding to the chaos is the significant number of vehicles travelling against the designated flow, contributing to the gridlock.

IN PHOTOS: Traffic snarls in Mumbai as Manoj Jarange Patil led Maratha morcha nears city

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Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has arrived in Navi Mumbai on Friday with thousands of supporters to fight for Maratha reservations. Around 5 am, several activists on bikes, vehicles, jeeps, tempos, and lorries assembled at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) on Mumbai's outskirts.

According to Jarange's plan, he and his followers would begin a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Friday. Their main demand is for Kunbi (OBC) status for the Maratha population.

In a notice filed under Section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Mumbai Police voiced worry about the potential negative impact on the city's financial activity and transit network. They proposed an alternative location at International Corporation Park Ground in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, and threatened contempt charges if the protestors would not comply, a report in PTI stated.

The police also denied permission for the gathering to be held at Dadar's Shivaji Park, citing Republic Day activities and capacity issues. However, Jarange maintained that the Maratha unrest would not affect Republic Day celebrations.

"Approximately 60 to 65 lakh citizens travel by train and other means of transport for jobs in Mumbai every day. If the Maratha protestors reach the city in their vehicles, it will have an adverse effect and the everyday transport system in the city will collapse," the report cited the police notice.

It further stated, "As per the High Court, only 7,000 square metres area of Azad Maidan has been reserved for protest and its capacity is to accommodate 5,000 to 6,000 protestors, but if a large number of protestors come there, there will not be enough space for them to stop and there are no facilities to that extent. The rest of the ground comes under the school education and sports department which too has rejected permission to hold the rally."

Despite police warnings and discussions with government officials, Jarange insisted on marching towards Mumbai. He urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar to personally join in discussions to settle the matter. The police sought a change in the march route due to a hospital along the present path and suggested using the ancient Pune-Mumbai highway as an alternative.

With agency inputs