As the Ganesh Chaturthi festival approaches, the Mumbai-Pune Highway is witnessing severe traffic jams, causing frustration and long delays for commuters. Thousands of people traveling from Mumbai to their hometowns for the festival, including destinations like Sangli, Karad, and Goa, are being affected by the gridlock. This surge in traffic is primarily due to the incomplete Mumbai-Goa Highway, which has forced many travelers to opt for the Mumbai-Pune route instead.

Mumbai-Goa Highway Woes Force Diversions

The ongoing construction of the Mumbai-Goa Highway, which has been delayed for years, has significantly impacted the travel plans of Ganesha devotees heading to Konkan. With only 72% of the highway work completed, commuters are taking alternate routes via the Mumbai-Pune Highway and diverting through Karad to reach their destinations in Goa. This detour has not only increased travel time but also worsened traffic congestion on the already busy Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD) have been criticized for their sluggish progress on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. The project, initially scheduled for completion in 2016, has missed several deadlines. During a recent session of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, concerns about the delayed construction were raised by NCP leader Vikram Kale, leading to a heated debate. In response, PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan confirmed that only 72% of the Panvel-Indapur stretch and 85% of the Indapur-Zarap section had been completed.

Traffic Chaos on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Adding to the traffic woes, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway is facing significant congestion as thousands of citizens flock to their villages for Ganeshotsav. The holiday rush, coupled with the ongoing construction on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, has resulted in long queues of vehicles on both lanes of the expressway, with some commuters stuck for hours. The Borghat Police have been deployed to manage the situation, allowing traffic from both lanes to move more smoothly.

The Khambataki Ghat in Satara district has also become a bottleneck for travelers. Two trucks got stuck while climbing the ghat, causing a two-kilometer-long traffic jam that disrupted the flow of vehicles for over half an hour. Police and cranes were dispatched to clear the blockage and restore normal traffic.

Mumbai-Goa Highway Suffers Heavy Traffic Jams Amid Rainfall

For the second day in a row, the Mumbai-Goa Highway has been plagued by long traffic jams, adding to the frustration of Mumbaikars traveling to Konkan for the festival. Areas such as Nagothane, Sukeli Khind, and Lonere on the highway have been particularly hard-hit, with vehicles queuing up since the early hours of the morning. The situation has been exacerbated by continuous rainfall, which has made the roads muddy and slippery. Police have urged drivers to proceed cautiously in these conditions to avoid accidents.

A Festival Tradition Marred by Traffic Delays

Ganesh Chaturthi, a time when families eagerly return to their hometowns to celebrate, has become synonymous with traffic chaos for those traveling by road. The combination of incomplete infrastructure projects and the annual holiday rush has left commuters facing long hours of travel, with no immediate solution in sight.

As the festive season continues, authorities will need to address the ongoing construction delays and improve traffic management to ensure smoother journeys for those returning home for future celebrations.