Traffic congestion on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway has entered its fifth consecutive day, leaving thousands of commuters and truck drivers stranded for hours amid mounting frustration.
From ambulances stuck
in long queues to passengers missing flights and trains, the disruption has exposed the highway’s chronic infrastructure problems.
The massive gridlock, stretching across several kilometres near Vasai and Palghar, was reportedly triggered by ongoing road repair work and the diversion of heavy vehicles.
Linking Maharashtra and Gujarat, NH-48 serves as a vital economic lifeline, cutting across Mumbai, Thane, and Pune. Yet, even as other parts of the country witness rapid completion of expressways, tunnels, and metro projects, this crucial highway continues to frustrate daily commuters.
For residents of Vasai-Virar, NH-48 is the only viable route to Mumbai. Alternatives such as the Ro-Ro ferry service are frequently overcrowded, with queues stretching to 100–125 vehicles, forcing commuters to add at least five extra hours to their journey. Elderly residents, who cannot depend on train travel, rely entirely on this heavily congested highway.
School Bus With Students Stuck Without Food, Water
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.
