MUMBAI: South Mumbai faced major disruption on Friday as the Maratha quota protest led by activist Manoj Jarange brought normal life to a halt, with thousands of protesters gathering at Azad Maidan and crowding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).
The Central Railway issued an advisory urging commuters to travel to CSMT only if absolutely necessary, citing heavy crowds in and around the station. Passengers reported difficulty navigating the suburban concourse as protesters occupied waiting areas, further reducing space for regular commuters.
The protests also created traffic chaos across south and eastern Mumbai, particularly on routes leading to CSMT. Daily office-goers heading to business hubs such as Nariman Point, Fort, Kalabadevi, and Crawford Market faced severe delays.
Public transport was heavily impacted:
- Local trains on the Harbour line witnessed overcrowding as protesters were present at several stations between Wadala and CSMT.
- BEST bus services were curtailed or diverted, with many routes ending at Dadar, Bharatmata, and Mumbai Central instead of south Mumbai. Several buses were overcrowded, causing inconvenience to passengers.
- Eastern Freeway traffic was severely affected as Jarange and his supporters travelled via the corridor with a large convoy, causing bottlenecks and parking congestion.
The Mumbai traffic police urged motorists to avoid the Freeway and use alternate routes. Heavy police deployment was reported at Azad Maidan to maintain law and order.
The agitation also disrupted routine schedules of students, with several schools and colleges witnessing poor attendance due to travel difficulties.
