Chaos At Panvel Toll Plaza Causes 2-km Traffic Snarl On Old Pune–Mumbai Highway
Chaos At Panvel Toll Plaza Causes 2-km Traffic Snarl On Old Pune–Mumbai Highway
Panvel, February 9, 2026: Traffic on the old Pune–Mumbai Highway was severely disrupted on Sunday after chaos erupted at the Panvel toll plaza, leading to vehicle queues stretching up to two kilometres, officials said.
The incident occurred at the Shedung toll plaza near Panvel, where frequent congestion has been a long-standing issue. Commuters were left stranded for extended periods, triggering public anger and confusion at the toll point. Amid the disorder, several vehicles reportedly passed through the plaza without paying toll fees.
The situation escalated when workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest at the toll plaza, alleging mismanagement and improper handling of traffic. According to party representatives, repeated complaints had been received regarding chronic traffic jams at the location.
MNS Transport Sena General Secretary Santosh Gaikwad visited the site following these complaints and found traffic backed up for nearly one to two kilometres. He, along with party workers, demanded the immediate release of stalled vehicles to ease congestion.
Eyewitnesses said heated arguments broke out between toll staff and MNS workers, after which vehicles were allowed to proceed without paying toll charges. Party workers questioned toll authorities over the collection of fees despite heavy congestion and pointed out that even ambulances were stuck in the traffic jam.
The protest created a tense atmosphere at the toll plaza, and traffic movement on the old Pune–Mumbai Highway came to a temporary standstill. Several vehicles moved ahead once barriers were lifted, easing the backlog to some extent.
Authorities rushed to the spot to restore order and manage traffic. The MNS stated that the protest was carried out due to recurring inconvenience to commuters and the failure to resolve traffic congestion at the toll plaza.
