With Ganeshotsav celebrations only days away, the Mumbai-Goa Highway is once again witnessing paralysing congestion, with thousands travelling from Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai towards their ancestral homes in Konkan. Long tailbacks, some stretching six to seven kilometres, have become routine across key stretches, exposing the fragile condition of the crucial arterial road.
The surge in traffic is no surprise. The highway has for decades been the lifeline for Konkan residents returning home for the festival, yet its infrastructure continues to crumble under pressure. Despite the state government’s decision to add 1,000 state transport buses and waive toll charges for festival travellers, private vehicles still dominate the road, aggravating gridlocks at construction bottlenecks. What should have been a smooth four-lane expressway by now remains an unending project, first conceived in 2011. Motorists still battle unfinished flyovers, cratered surfaces and narrow stretches, forcing frequent detours onto service roads. Officials admitted that areas like Mangaon and Lonere remain the worst choke points where ongoing construction work has brought traffic to a crawl.
The state has stationed over 600 police and home guard personnel at major junctions to manage the flow, supported by motorcycle patrols assisting stranded commuters. Yet, with road capacity heavily compromised, even increased deployment has failed to ease the travel burden. Motorists took to social media over the weekend, sharing images and memes of the deteriorating road surface and chaotic jams, making the highway’s condition a trending public debate. Beyond the inconvenience, the safety of travellers has become a pressing concern. A local activist has embarked on a ‘road satyagraha’, walking the length of the highway to document potholes, missing signboards and risky diversions. His campaign highlights how neglected roadwork is not just a nuisance but a daily hazard that has already claimed lives. Experts note that such citizen-led interventions are increasingly crucial in pushing authorities towards accountability.
The state’s repeated promises of completion have yet to materialise. Officials insist that progress is being made, but for residents who face the ordeal each festive season, optimism is wearing thin. For many, the festival journey is no longer a joyous return home but an exhausting test of patience. The Ganeshotsav rush on the Mumbai-Goa Highway reflects not only the strain of seasonal travel but also the deeper urban challenge of sustainable infrastructure. Unless the state and highway authorities prioritise long-delayed upgrades with urgency, the annual exodus to Konkan will continue to bring chaos, congestion and risk. For now, the journey towards a safer and smoother highway remains as arduous as the ride itself.
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