The traffic snarl on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway entered its fifth consecutive day on Thursday, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded and frustrated. From ambulances stranded in long queues
to passengers missing flights and trains, this week’s traffic chaos has highlighted the highway’s long-standing infrastructure issues.
Social media is flooded with complaints as people shared their struggles navigating the jam-packed route.
The jam was triggered by the diversion of heavy vehicles from Thane’s Ghodbunder Highway, where ongoing repair work has shifted the traffic load onto the Mumbai–Ahmedabad route. Connecting Maharashtra with Gujarat, NH-48 serves as a vital economic lifeline, cutting across Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.
Frustrated Over Jam, Netizens Flock To Social Media
One commuter highlighted the severity of the delays. A user wrote on X that a route which once allowed travel from Mumbai to Udaipur in just five hours took 19 hours on Wednesday due to the highway closure.
A few years back I drove from Mumbai to Udaipur and reached there in around 9 hours
Yesterday my nephew and a friend drove down the same route.
They took 19 HOURS. A part of Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway was closed for repairs and they were stuck in traffic for over 5 hours after…
— sandip sabharwal (@sandipsabharwal) October 16, 2025
“A few years back I drove from Mumbai to Udaipur and reached there in around 9 hours. Yesterday my nephew and a friend drove down the same route. They took 19 HOURS. A part of Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway was closed for repairs and they were stuck in traffic for over 5 hours after Vasai. Bad state of affairs overall @nitin_gadkari @narendramodi (sic),” user @sandipsabharwal tweeted.
Another user questioned why authorities cannot restrict heavy vehicles during ongoing repairs.
“I fail to understand why donot we stop heavy transport for a day. Only allow Transport of important stuff till the road work of Ghodbunder is done.(sic),” tweeted @MithilWane.
Reacting to the situation, @Sanjiv34154297 noted the difficulty of even reaching nearby destinations. “really bad situation. We cant think of going towards virar also what to talk about Ahmedabad.(sic)” the post read.
Several commuters criticized the deteriorating condition of the highway and called for urgent attention.
“NH48 has been in bad shape since several years, some or the other construction, some or the other repair- NH48 is always in futuristic mode. When will our “today” be better ? If I were the politician, i would pay a special attention to NH48 for TODAY (sic),” user @modibrij wrote.
Another commuter revealed that his parents had abandoned plans to travel to Gujarat due to the massive jam. “Yes, my parents also were leaving for Gujarat but due to the traffic they dropped the plan,” he said.
User @modibrij further suggested a drastic solution to manage the congestion.
“I feel NH48, WEH, Vakola flyover should be handed over to Army,” he tweeted.
Repair Works Turn Into Nightmare
The repair work has turned into a nightmare for people in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. A total of 12 buses carrying students from classes 5 to 10 of different schools, as well as some college students from Thane and Mumbai, were stuck in the jam from around 5:30 pm on Tuesday until early Wednesday morning, PTI news agency quoted officials as saying.
The children, returning from a school picnic near Virar, reportedly spent several hours without food or water. By evening, many were exhausted, hungry, and anxious, while worried parents anxiously awaited updates on their safety.
Members of a local social organisation rushed to the scene, giving water and biscuits to the stranded children and tried to help drivers navigate the congested lanes.
“The students were crying due to hunger and exhaustion. It was heartbreaking to see them suffer because of the poor traffic management,” an activist told PTI.
The ongoing congestion highlights persistent issues on one of India’s busiest highway corridors, with commuters urging authorities to take immediate measures to prevent further disruptions.
