September 1, 2025: Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and surrounding areas were brought to a standstill over the weekend as thousands of protesters occupied streets, disrupting traffic and hitting businesses in south Mumbai. The usually bustling commercial hubs near Crawford Market witnessed a sharp drop in sales as festival shoppers stayed away, wary of the crowds and chaos.
Motorists reported being harassed by mobs, with one driver claiming his vehicle was blocked and attacked by demonstrators near CSMT. Protesters were seen cooking, bathing, and washing on public roads, even stringing clothes across traffic lights. Food packets and litter piled up despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) deploying additional bins and staff on round-the-clock shifts.
Some protesters entered a five-star hotel in Colaba and a clothing shop in Kala Ghoda carrying banners. Eyewitnesses said they used the hotel’s restrooms and lingered in the lobby. Several restaurants and shops in the vicinity shut early, while others cited heavy losses. Instances of protesters urinating on public buildings added to the foul stench in the area.
Although BMC had anticipated around 5,000 demonstrators, nearly 30,000 converged at Azad Maidan across three days, forcing officials to activate emergency measures. Water tankers were scaled up from six to 25, portable toilets expanded from 236 to nearly 350, and sanitation staff increased tenfold. Over 1,000 protesters were treated for ailments at on-site medical camps and city hospitals placed on standby.
Officials also installed floodlights, cleared rainwater sludge, and spread stones to stabilise walkways. Despite efforts, waste and crowd management remained a challenge. With protests expected to continue, the BMC plans to hire an additional 500 contractual labourers to manage the crisis, even as ward-level staff prepare for upcoming Ganpati immersions.
Source: The Times Of India
