South Mumbai is bracing for a chaotic Monday, with the police extending permission for the Maratha quota agitation at Azad Maidan for another day.
Warning from Jarange-Patil
On Sunday, Manoj Jarange-Patil who is leading the protests, warned the state government and leaders, stating, “Do not speak against the self-respect of Marathas. If a solution is not reached this week, by next weekend no Maratha will be seen at home. It will be impossible to walk even 100-200 meters in Mumbai.”
Traffic Paralysis
The protest by Marathas who are demanding Other Backward Class (OBC) status, which started on Friday, has thrown south Mumbai into a traffic chaos, as lakhs of road and rail commuters and students struggled to reach their workplaces, homes, and educational institutions.
The city’s traffic police on Saturday urged motorists to avoid the Eastern Freeway, which continued to witness heavy congestion as Maratha protesters used the route to reach Azad Maidan.
Authorities have asked citizens to use alternate routes and exercise caution while traveling in and around the affected areas until the situation eases.
Commuter Disruptions
While protestors have gathered at Azad Maidan, thousands of others have occupied roads outside Azad Maidan, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) building and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Hundreds of vehicles that had carried the protestors to Mumbai remain parked on the roads, paralysing the nerve centre of the city. Friday's chaos continued on Saturday, and while the protests did not abate on Sunday, the absence of commuters meant that there were fewer traffic disruptions. Despite this, BEST cancelled several routes in the areas around the protest venue on Sunday.
Protest Numbers Surge
Police estimated that around 25,000 protestors are camping in Azad Maidan and its vicinity, including CSMT station, the BMC building and the surrounding roads. Mumbai police said around 2000 personnel will be deployed in the area on Monday to avoid further chaos. Another 750 personnel from the traffic police will also be on duty in the area to regulate traffic on Monday. Though the strike will affect office workers and students of educational institutions in the area, the police and the administration did not issue any special directives on the subject.
Vehicles Add to Chaos
Rakesh Kalasagar, commissioner of police (railways) said that they have increased security staff at CSMT railway station. GRP (Government Railway Police) and RPF (Railway Protection Force) officers have been deployed at the station. “On Monday, we will deploy more personnel, as it is the first working day of the week and a large number of citizens commute from CSMT,” said Kalasagar.
No Clear Directives Yet
With CSMT being used as a camp for the agitation, Central Railway said it is implementing special arrangements to manage Monday's commuters' rush. BEST said that buses will operate as per schedule, barricaded roads and crowds can lead to diversion or curtailing of routes.
Heavy Security at Azad Maidan
Security deployment around Azad Maidan has been increased, with reserve police forces stationed at the Commissioner’s office. Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIV) have also been placed on standby. Apart from emergency vehicles like ambulances and police units, all other traffic has been restricted from entering Mahapalika Marg and D N Road.
This disruption is expected to create significant challenges on Monday for government and private sector employees commuting from Thane, Navi Mumbai, and the eastern suburbs to south Mumbai areas such as CSMT, Fort, and Nariman Point. With schools and colleges also located in the vicinity, students are likely to face difficulties as well.
Number of protestors: 25,000
Police personnel: 2000
Traffic police: 750
Number of protestors' vehicles parked around Azad Maidan: 400
