Wai Calls For Bandh and Protest Over Poor And Delayed Construction Of Surur Road
Strong Response To Wai Shutdown As Residents Protest Poor Surur Mahabaleshwar Road Work
Wai, March 10, 2026: Residents of Wai have announced a citywide shutdown on Wednesday to protest against the poor quality and slow pace of road construction in the area, particularly on the Surur–Wai route.
Travellers using the damaged road have reportedly faced several problems, including health issues caused by dust, along with damage to agricultural produce and vehicles. Frustrated by the situation, local citizens have decided to observe a bandh and block key roads, including routes connecting Wai to Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar and Mandhardevi Temple. Protesters have also warned of blocking the Pune–Bengaluru Highway if their demands are not addressed.
The decision was taken during a meeting held at the Wai municipal council hall in the presence of municipal president Anil Sawant. Traders, hotel owners, farmers, residents, social activists and representatives of various political parties attended the meeting.
According to residents, the road widening and cement concreting work on the Surur–Wai–Panchgani–Mahabaleshwar stretch is being carried out under the supervision of the Public Works Department of Maharashtra and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. However, locals claim the construction quality is poor and progress has been extremely slow, causing major disruption to daily life and local businesses.
Farmers in the region have reported losses to crops growing near the roadside, including strawberry plantations, while traders and roadside vendors say their businesses have suffered significantly due to the dug-up roads and heavy dust pollution. The dust has also reportedly damaged mango blossoms in nearby orchards and raised environmental concerns.
With most major roads dug up for construction, residents say they are facing serious physical, mental and financial hardship. Travel times have also increased significantly because of the poor road conditions.
As a result, the citizens of Wai have called for a complete shutdown and a “rasta roko” protest to raise their concerns against the contractor and the authorities responsible for the project. Protest leaders warned that if the issue remains unresolved even after the agitation, they will block the Pune–Bengaluru Highway near Surur to draw the attention of the government.
During the meeting, it was also decided to submit a memorandum outlining the citizens’ grievances to Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale, Maharashtra’s Public Works Minister, and Makarand Patil, the state’s Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, along with the concerned administrative authorities.
