At least 70 Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) bus routes were affected in the city activist Manoj Jarange begin his Maratha quota protest in Mumbai on Friday, officials said.

The protest being held at south Mumbai's Azad Maidan led to traffic disruptions across the city and by 7 pm, at least 23 roads were affected, resulting in diversions, curtailments, or full closures of BEST bus services, they said.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange began his indefinite hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Friday. He has vowed not to leave the city till the the Maratha community's demands were met and accepted by the state government.