The Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway has been disrupted for a second day after farmers blocked traffic near the Kognoli toll plaza on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, prompting police to advise travellers from Mumbai, Pune and Satara to avoid National Highway 48 unless their journey is necessary.
The blockade, which began on Tuesday morning, has affected vehicles travelling from Maharashtra’s Kolhapur region towards Belagavi and Bengaluru. Heavy vehicles, including trucks and containers, were reported stranded on both sides of the toll booth as the protest continued on Wednesday.
Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Inspector General of Police for the Kolhapur Range, said the police had advised travellers to use alternative routes. The police also wrote to Google Maps officials, requesting that the affected stretch near Kognoli be shown as closed because of the ongoing demonstration.
According to the advisory issued through the office of Dr Shivaji Pawar, Superintendent of Police (Highways), Pune Range, there had been no change in the situation on Wednesday morning. Police said traffic congestion caused by the protest could take time to clear and asked people to avoid NH48 until the route becomes operational again.
Travellers heading from Satara towards Belagavi have been advised to use a route through Rahimatpur, Tasgaon, Miraj and Gokak. Another alternative connects Karad with Ashta, Sangli and Miraj before continuing towards Belagavi and destinations farther south. Police said arrangements were being made on these diversion routes with the help of traffic police and local personnel.
The disruption is concentrated on the route towards Karnataka. The advisory said travellers heading towards Mahabaleshwar, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur did not need to be concerned about the blockade. Police are monitoring traffic conditions and have said they will inform Google Maps when movement returns to normal so that the road closure advisory can be withdrawn.
The protest has been organised by Maharashtra’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and Karnataka’s Raitha Sangha after talks with the government failed, according to the report. The farmer groups are seeking higher returns ahead of the annual sugarcane crushing season, including a sugar minimum support price of Rs 50 per kilogram and an ethanol purchase price of Rs 70 per litre.
Raju Shetti, president of the Maharashtra organisation, said the demands would enable sugar mills to pay farmers Rs 5,000 per tonne. The report did not specify a government response to the demands, while the blockade continued for a second day.
The police have said the latest traffic information will be shared once the situation improves. Until then, travellers and freight operators using the Mumbai-Bengaluru corridor have been asked to plan around the affected section and use the suggested diversions where possible.
