Villagers have warned of an indefinite road blockade from 2 October if authorities fail to resolve traffic congestion caused by queues at a CNG and petrol pump near Bhuigaon on the Vasai-Arnala road in Vasai West, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar.
The queues reportedly form on both sides of the road near the fuel station, narrowing the carriageway and disrupting traffic. Residents have also raised concerns about the increased risk of accidents, particularly because the road is already narrow and carries regular traffic through Vasai’s rural areas.
The Bhuigaon junction is described as a central point on the Vasai-Arnala route. The road is the only connection to Vasai’s rural belt and was already narrow because of its age, the report said. Regular movement through the junction is further increased by visitors travelling to Bhuigaon beach, the Swami Samarth Math and meetings associated with Nana Dharmadhikari in the area.
The fuel station adjoining the Bhuigaon junction belongs to Indian Oil. Along with its petrol service, the station also operates a CNG facility. According to residents cited in the report, the station does not have sufficient private space for vehicles waiting to refuel. As a result, cars and autorickshaws queue along both sides of the Vasai-Arnala main road, which is maintained by the Public Works Department.
The queues have become a recurring source of congestion for commuters using the route. Residents have also alleged that irresponsible driving by motorists, particularly autorickshaw drivers, has contributed to a rise in accident risks. The report did not provide figures for the number of accidents or details of any official traffic assessment.
The reported problem places pressure on a road that serves multiple functions: it carries local rural traffic, provides access to a coastal destination and religious sites, and accommodates vehicles stopping for fuel. With waiting vehicles occupying road space outside the station, the available width for through traffic is reduced, according to the residents’ complaint.
The villagers’ warning is conditional. They have said that an indefinite blockade will begin on 2 October if a solution is not found to the inconvenience caused by the fuel station and its CNG queues. The report did not specify which authority would lead any intervention, whether the fuel station had responded, or what traffic-management measures had been proposed.
