The Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway remained affected on Wednesday after farmers blocked traffic near the Kognoli toll plaza on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, prompting police to advise travellers from Mumbai, Pune and Satara to avoid the Pune-Bengaluru route unless necessary.
The disruption on National Highway 48 began on Tuesday morning and had entered its second day by Wednesday, according to a report by Navbharat Times. Heavy vehicles, including trucks and containers, were stranded on both sides of the Kognoli toll booth as protesters continued their demonstration over sugarcane prices, ethanol rates and other demands.
Ranjan Kumar Sharma, inspector general of police for the Kolhapur range, said travellers heading from Maharashtra towards Belagavi and Bengaluru should use alternative routes where possible. Police have also written to Google Maps officials, requesting that the affected section near the Kognoli toll plaza be shown as closed because of the protest.
The police advisory asked travellers to avoid NH48 until the situation improves. One suggested alternative route runs from Satara through Rahimatpur, Tasgaon, Miraj and Gokak before reaching Belagavi. Another connects Karad with Ashta, Sangli and Miraj, from where travellers can continue southwards. Police said arrangements had been made along the alternative routes with assistance from traffic police and local police personnel.
The disruption is concentrated on traffic travelling towards Karnataka. The report said travellers going to Mahabaleshwar, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur do not need to be concerned about the blockade. The office of Dr Shivaji Pawar, superintendent of police for highways in the Pune range, said there had been no change in the situation on Wednesday morning and warned that normal traffic movement could take time to resume.
The protest has been organised by Maharashtra’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and Karnataka’s Raitha Sangha after talks with the government failed, according to the report. Raju Shetti, president of the Maharashtra organisation, said farmer groups were demanding a sugar minimum support price of Rs 50 per kilogram and an ethanol purchase price of Rs 70 per litre, shortly before the annual crushing season begins.
Shetti said meeting these demands would enable sugar mills to pay farmers Rs 5,000 per tonne. The report did not indicate any response from the central government by Wednesday. Police said they would inform Google Maps once traffic conditions improved so that the road-closure advisory could be withdrawn. Travellers were advised to postpone journeys on NH48 where possible or use the recommended alternatives until further notice.
