New Delhi, Feb 06 : The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Mahayuti government, citing the 32-hour traffic gridlock on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as evidence that official promises of a “dynamic” Maharashtra do not match reality.
In an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray faction argued that the expressway once hailed as a model corridor for fast travel has now become a source of anxiety for commuters. The party said the crisis undermines the administration’s push for new mega infrastructure projects while existing highways struggle to cope with rising traffic.
The editorial referred to the massive congestion triggered earlier this week after a gas tanker overturned on the expressway, leading to vehicle queues stretching nearly 30 kilometres on both sides. Thousands of travellers were reportedly left stranded for hours without access to basic necessities such as food and water.
According to the party, the situation worsened when a cement container broke down between Talegaon and Malavali just as traffic was beginning to ease. The second disruption paralysed Mumbai bound lanes for several more hours, prolonging commuter distress for a second consecutive day.
Questioning the state’s infrastructure management, the Thackeray camp said the government appeared unprepared to handle emergencies and lacked effective diversion plans. It also criticised leaders for showcasing projects such as Atal Setu, the Missing Link and the Navi Mumbai International Airport while failing to maintain critical transport routes.
The editorial further claimed that despite the expressway being envisioned decades ago, authorities have not adequately planned for the sharp rise in vehicle numbers over the past 25 years. It likened the Chief Minister’s subsequent instructions to agencies as a delayed response, comparing them to “locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.”