Manoj Jarange march slows Mumbai; office-goers and students struggle with crowded trains, crawling buses

Office-goers and school students faced major inconvenience on Friday morning as thousands of Maratha protesters joined activist Manoj Jarange’s Mumbai Morcha march towards Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Traffic slowed down sharply in the city’s southern and eastern parts, particularly on routes leading to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Several buses were stuck in long jams around CSMT during peak hours, affecting lakhs of commuters headed to business hubs like Nariman Point, Fort, Kalabadevi, and Crawford Market.

Train delays add to commuters’ problems

Along with road congestion, suburban services on the Central Railway were delayed. A snag in the engine of a goods train near Byculla station caused bunching of local trains. Many passengers reported overcrowded compartments and difficulty in finding BEST buses.

“All suburban stations and local trains on the Harbour line have been more crowded than usual. Maratha quota protesters were at all stations between Wadala and CSMT,” a suburban commuter said.

Bus services curtailed and diverted

The protest affected BEST bus operations across south Mumbai. A spokesperson said all south Mumbai-bound services on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg were curtailed at Dadar. Several other routes were cut short at Bharatmata, Mumbai Central and nearby areas. Commuters said buses that did operate were overcrowded.

Mumbai traffic police asked motorists to avoid the Eastern Freeway, one of the main corridors connecting to south Mumbai. Jarange travelled to Azad Maidan through the Freeway with hundreds of vehicles, some of which were parked in surrounding areas.

Heavy police deployment was seen in and around Azad Maidan to maintain law and order.

The agitation also disrupted daily schedules for students, with several schools and colleges reporting low attendance.

(Inputs from PTI)