Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway traffic came to a standstill in Vasai-Virar on Thursday morning, with vehicles queued for about five kilometres between Naigaon Bapane Phata and Sassoonavghar on the Gujarat-bound carriageway.
The disruption affected office commuters, workers and school students travelling through the eastern part of Vasai-Virar. The congestion was reported on the route towards Gujarat, although traffic on the Mumbai-Thane carriageway has more commonly faced congestion-related complaints in the area.
According to the report, large potholes near the railway bridge slowed vehicles sharply and contributed to the formation of a continuous queue. Illegal roadside parking and a lack of traffic planning were also identified as factors worsening movement along the highway.
The congestion created an additional risk when some motorists attempted to drive in the opposite direction on the Mumbai-Thane carriageway. This raised the possibility of traffic being disrupted in both directions, while also creating a safety hazard for other road users.
Traffic police were working to remove obstructions and restore normal movement on the highway. The report did not provide an estimated time for complete clearance or details of any road-repair schedule.
Local residents and regular commuters have called for urgent repairs to the potholes and more orderly traffic management along the affected stretch. The immediate traffic situation is expected to depend on the removal of obstructions and the restoration of vehicle flow between Sassoonavghar and Bapane Phata.
