August 25, 2025: With Ganeshotsav only days away, the Mumbai–Goa Highway is once again gridlocked, as thousands travel from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai to their ancestral homes in Konkan. Long tailbacks, some stretching up to seven kilometres, have become routine, exposing the fragile state of this crucial arterial route.
For decades, the highway has been the lifeline for Konkan-bound travellers during the festival, yet the infrastructure remains woefully inadequate. Despite the state government’s decision to deploy 1,000 state transport buses and waive toll charges, private cars dominate the road, worsening bottlenecks at construction points. What should by now have been a seamless four-lane expressway — first proposed in 2011 — remains mired in delays. Unfinished flyovers, uneven road surfaces and narrow stretches force frequent detours, bringing traffic to a crawl, particularly around Mangaon and Lonere.
To ease congestion, the state has deployed over 600 police and home guard personnel, supported by motorcycle patrols. However, with road capacity severely restricted, even increased enforcement has offered little respite. Frustrated motorists have taken to social media to share images and memes of the jammed highway, turning the issue into a trending public debate.
Beyond delays, safety concerns loom large. A local activist has launched a “road satyagraha”, walking the highway to document potholes, missing signboards and dangerous diversions. His campaign underlines how poor road conditions are more than an inconvenience — they pose a daily hazard that has already cost lives.
While officials insist that work is progressing, repeated promises of completion ring hollow for residents enduring the ordeal every festive season. For many, the journey home for Ganeshotsav has become less a celebration than a test of endurance, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable infrastructure upgrades.
Source: Urban Acres
