12-km Long Traffic Jam Brings Pune-Mumbai Expressway to a Standstill
12-km Long Traffic Jam Brings Pune-Mumbai Expressway to a Standstill
The Pune-Mumbai expressway witnessed a massive 12-km long traffic jam on Wednesday, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded for hours. The chaos was caused by the influx of tourists heading to popular destinations like Mahabaleshwar and Goa for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Commuters took to social media to express their frustration, with many reporting being stuck in traffic for over two hours. Sujeet who was traveling to Mahabaleshwar with his family, said, “We started from Panvel early morning, but are stuck in the Borghat section for the last 1.5 hours. It may take another two hours for the traffic to clear.”
Holiday Traffic Chaos on Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Massive Congestion Leads to Delays VC: Amol Joshi (@iam_amoljoshi) https://t.co/XxDqwLV6yi pic.twitter.com/CiRzpkqFYl
— Pune Pulse (@pulse_pune) December 25, 2024
@nitin_gadkari @NHAI_Official why should we have to pay toll if u can't give EXPRESS way!! It took 2 hours to cross lonawala ghat on Mumbai Pune express way!!
— Sujeet (@Sujeet2709) December 25, 2024
I am paying tax by which u create roads for us
I am being charged heavily to use that road…Still I am not getting srvc
The Borghat section of the expressway was the most affected, with long queues of vehicles reported from Amrutanjan Bridge to Anda Point in Khandala Borghat section and Khalapur Toll Naka. The traffic congestion was exacerbated by the large number of private vehicles on the road, as most tourists opted to drive to their destinations.
The state highway police reported that several vehicles broke down due to overheating, further adding to the chaos. A highway police official advised tourists to plan their trips in advance and start early to avoid the usual holiday rush.
By 3 pm on Wednesday, the highway police had managed to regulate traffic on the expressway, bringing some relief to stranded commuters. However, the incident served as a reminder of the need for better traffic management during peak holiday seasons.
