Traffic on the Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway 48 was restored on Wednesday evening after protesters withdrew their agitation at the Kognoli toll plaza in Karnataka, ending hours of disruption that had forced vehicles through alternative routes in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra Highway Police said in an update issued around 6.30 pm that the highway had been cleared and traffic had resumed as usual. Vehicles diverted because of the protest were also being allowed to return to NH-48, and commuters no longer needed to use the alternate routes.
The disruption began on Tuesday evening and continued into Wednesday as protesters gathered at the Kognoli toll plaza over demands related to sugarcane prices, an increase in ethanol prices and other connected issues. The protest affected vehicles travelling towards Belagavi and Bengaluru on the interstate highway.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Maharashtra Highway Police had advised motorists travelling from Mumbai towards Bengaluru to avoid NH-48 as far as possible until further instructions. The advisory followed continued disruption at the toll plaza and the diversion of traffic through Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts.
Two alternative routes had been suggested for passenger and goods vehicles. Both routes passed through parts of Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur before connecting with Belagavi in Karnataka. The diversions placed additional pressure on roads serving the adjoining districts while allowing vehicles to bypass the affected section of the national highway.
NH-48 is a key interstate corridor linking Mumbai and Pune with Bengaluru and several industrial centres in southern India. It carries substantial passenger and freight traffic, including buses, private vehicles and commercial transport. The temporary closure therefore affected commuters, bus passengers and transport operators travelling between Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The restoration highlights the operational dependence of regional travel and supply chains on a limited number of high-capacity interstate corridors. When a disruption occurs at a toll plaza or another point along the route, traffic must be shifted onto roads that were not necessarily designed to handle the same volume of passenger and goods movement. In this instance, the Maharashtra Highway Police issued route guidance and managed the return of diverted vehicles after the protest was withdrawn.
The highway police have appealed to motorists to exercise caution as traffic returns to normal, follow traffic regulations and cooperate with personnel on the route. Commuters facing difficulties while travelling on NH-48 have been asked to contact the highway police for assistance.
