Maharashtra: The sugarcane farmers’ protest in Maharashtra is intensifying. Led by former MP Raju Shetty, the farmers are demanding an advance payment of Rs 4,500 per ton for sugarcane. Due to this protest, the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48) remained closed for the third consecutive day on Thursday. Thousands of commuters and motorists are facing inconvenience due to the jam during the festive season.
The protest has affected a stretch of approximately 120 kilometers from Nagthane in Satara district to Sangli Phata in Kolhapur district. A large number of heavy vehicles are stranded on the highway. Traffic has been diverted to other routes, causing traffic jams on bypasses and smaller connecting roads.
This is causing significant inconvenience to commuters traveling to Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, and Belagavi
Mangesh Chirute, a passenger stranded on the highway, said he and his children and elderly family members had been stranded on the road since last night. He said they were on their way to Kolhapur to visit relatives for Diwali, but their vehicle hadn’t been able to move for several hours. They have limited food supplies, and their children are worried.
Vehicles traveling from Pune to Kolhapur and Sangli are facing heavy traffic from the D-Mart area in Satara to Ajantha Chowk. Although vehicles are being diverted via Rahimatpur, the increased movement of heavy trucks on this alternative route has made it difficult for even small vehicles to pass.
Small vehicles going to Sangli have been advised to travel via Satara city via Rahimatpur, Pussavali, and Palus. Drivers heading to Kolhapur can use alternative routes connecting Rahimatpur to Ashta, Bagani, and Peth Vadgaon.
However, traffic pressure is steadily increasing on these routes as well. As a result, officials have advised passengers to check the latest road conditions before commuting.
Around 100 MSRTC buses cancelled daily
The ongoing protests on the highway have also affected Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus services. The corporation is having to cancel around 100 bus trips daily, further exacerbating the difficulties faced by passengers traveling home for Diwali.
MSRTC Pune Division Controller Arun Siya said that since Wednesday, some buses have been operating via alternative routes in Sangli, Rahimatpur, and Vita to transport stranded passengers to their destinations.
He said the corporation is continuously assessing routes where bus services can be safely operated. He hopes a resolution to this dispute will be found soon.
However, concerns have also grown regarding the safety of buses on the diverted routes. According to SIA, on Thursday, a bus with Karnataka registration number was stopped and its windows were broken near Rahimatpur, ahead of Satara. This incident has raised questions about the safety of passenger vehicles plying on alternative routes.
Commercial Vehicles and Essential Goods Supply Impacted
The farmers’ protest has also affected the movement of commercial vehicles and the supply of essential goods. Baba Shinde, president of the Maharashtra State Transporters Association, said that more than 1,500 trucks carrying grains, vegetables, and other essential goods have been stranded on the highway for the past two days.
He said that the prolonged closure of the highway is causing huge losses to transport businesses. If the situation does not improve soon, the supply chain of essential goods could also be affected.
The standoff between the government and farmers continues
The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana has warned that if an agreement is not reached between the government and sugar mill owners soon, the agitation will be intensified.
Raju Shetty has also threatened to stop the supply of milk and vegetables to Mumbai and Pune. This has raised concerns about the availability of essential commodities in both cities.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the government sets the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane, while any payment above the FRP should be negotiated between farmers and sugar mill owners.
He stated that Minister Hasan Mushrif has been tasked with meeting with the concerned parties to resolve the dispute.
For now, talks between the government and farmers are expected to continue. Meanwhile, stranded passengers and transport businesses are awaiting a quick solution so that traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru highway can return to normal.