Traffic Disruption on Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway Amid Farmers' Protest
Ongoing protests by sugarcane farmers at Kognoli toll plaza lead to significant traffic diversions on NH-48.
Protests over sugarcane prices disrupt traffic on NH-48.
Maharashtra Police have implemented alternative routes for commuters.
A woman farmer attempted suicide during the protests, highlighting tensions.
Traffic on the Mumbai-Bengaluru National Highway 48 (NH-48) faced significant disruptions on Wednesday morning due to a protest by sugarcane farmers at the Kognoli toll plaza in Karnataka. The farmers are demanding higher cane prices and increased ethanol rates, prompting the Maharashtra Highway Police to implement diversions for vehicles heading towards Belagavi and Bengaluru.
The protest has severely impacted the flow of traffic on NH-48, a crucial interstate corridor linking Mumbai and Pune with Bengaluru and other industrial hubs in southern India. Motorists, bus passengers, and goods transport operators have experienced considerable delays as a result of the ongoing agitation. In response, the Maharashtra Highway Police issued an advisory urging commuters to avoid NH-48 and utilize alternative routes until the situation stabilizes.
Two alternative routes have been designated for both passenger and goods vehicles. The first route takes travelers through Satara, Rahimatpur, Pusesawali, Nevri, Vita, Tasgaon, Miraj, Kagwad, Raibag, and Gokak before reaching Belagavi. The second route also begins in Satara and passes through Karad, Peth Naka, Islampur, Ashta, Miraj, Kagwad, Raibag, and Gokak, ultimately connecting to Belagavi. The diversions are being managed by the Maharashtra Highway Police in collaboration with local district police forces.
Despite the disruptions on NH-48, traffic movement within Maharashtra remains normal, with no reported obstructions on other stretches of the highway. Ranjan Kumar Sharma, the Inspector General of Police for the Kolhapur Range, has advised commuters to avoid the affected routes unless absolutely necessary. Those who must travel are encouraged to follow the alternative routes provided by the police to minimize congestion.
The highway police have committed to providing regular updates until the protest concludes and normal traffic flow is restored. Commuters are urged to heed police instructions and plan their journeys accordingly. In a related incident, a woman farmer named Ratnamma Kalalapur attempted suicide during the protests at the Hitnal toll gate in Koppal district, but police intervened in time. She was subsequently taken to Koppal District Hospital for treatment, underscoring the heightened tensions surrounding the ongoing protests.
