Sugarcane farmers blocked highways across six north Karnataka districts for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and disrupting buses, trucks and inter-state freight movement on the Pune-Bengaluru corridor. The protesters are demanding a higher price for sugarcane, among other demands.
The blockade affected Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Haveri and Davanagere districts. The disruption was particularly severe on National Highway 48, a key link between Karnataka and Maharashtra used by vehicles travelling towards Pune and Mumbai as well as Hubballi-Dharwad, Bagalkot and Vijayapura.
Hundreds of trucks, lorries and passenger buses were caught in long queues, while motorists faced extended delays and were forced to search for alternative routes. Police arranged diversions, but traffic overwhelmed several of the substitute roads. Several long-distance bus services were delayed or suspended, while private transport operators reported increased demand from travellers trying to bypass the blocked stretches.
At Gaddanakeri junction in Bagalkot district, passengers got off buses, walked across the blocked section and boarded vehicles on the other side. The junction connects traffic towards Hubballi, Vijayapura, Belagavi and Bagalkot. Basavaraj, a Dharwad resident travelling to Pune for an event, told the Times of India that he was stranded near Gaddanakeri Cross and missed the event because of the delay.
The blockade also affected freight operators. Vinod, a truck driver, said he had been stranded since Tuesday afternoon and needed to reach Mumbai by Wednesday night to deliver a consignment. The delay put his delivery schedule at risk, adding to the impact on commercial traffic along the interstate route.
Travel to religious destinations was disrupted as well. Pilgrims heading to the Yellamma Temple in Saundatti, Sogal Somnath, Jyotiba Temple in Kolhapur and Mayakka Devi Temple in Chinchali were caught in traffic for hours, delaying visits and planned ceremonies.
In Belagavi district, farmers blocked the Hirebagewadi, Hattargi and Kognoli toll plazas, bringing traffic on the interstate corridor close to a standstill. Protesters used tractors and bullock carts to prevent vehicles from passing at several locations, and in some places continued their protest on the roadway. Belagavi superintendent of police K Ramarajan said adequate security arrangements had been made to maintain law and order and regulate traffic as far as possible.
The agitation at Yarikoppa near Dharwad and Bankapur toll plaza in Haveri district further affected inter-district and long-distance travel. In Kalaburagi, the State Farmers’ Association, Hasiru Sene and sugarcane growers began an indefinite protest by blocking the Srirangapatna-Bidar National Highway.
According to KKRTC divisional traffic officer Bailappa Biradar, buses bound for Jevargi were diverted through Naganahalli Circle and the AIR radio station, while services heading towards Vijayapura were rerouted through Afzalpur Road. Jevargi-bound buses were stopped at Ram Mandir Circle as authorities managed traffic around the blockade.
