The Maratha quota protest, led by activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, brought South Mumbai to a standstill on its second day, severely disrupting traffic around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and key arterial roads. Thousands of protesters, demanding a 10% reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category as Kunbis, spilled onto streets near Azad Maidan, causing chaos during Saturday’s morning peak hours.

Mumbai Police, supported by over 1,500 personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, and Rapid Action Force, struggled to manage the crowd, which exceeded the permitted 5,000 limit. Protesters, many wearing saffron caps and waving flags, blocked major routes like P D’Mello Road, Eastern Freeway, and Dr Dadabhai Naoroji Road, demanding basic amenities like water, toilets, and shelter amid heavy rainfall that turned Azad Maidan into a muddy swamp.

The Central Railway reported slight delays on Main and Harbour Line suburban services, with CSMT’s concourse and platforms overwhelmed by protesters sleeping and resting, reducing space for regular commuters. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) urged calm, while Central Railway advised avoiding CSMT unless essential. BEST bus services were hit hard, with 24 routes, including those on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, curtailed or diverted to Dadar and Mumbai Central, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

Also Read: Jarange Intensifies Maratha Quota Hunger Strike

Traffic snarls extended to Fort, Nariman Point, and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, with vehicles parked on roadsides and protesters cooking meals, exacerbating congestion. Mumbai Traffic Police issued advisories on X, urging motorists to avoid CSMT, Eastern Freeway, and Coastal Road, allowing only emergency vehicles like ambulances to pass. Social media reflected commuter frustration, with posts decrying the lack of prior warnings and impact on daily life, though some supported the Maratha cause.

Jarange, on his ninth hunger strike since 2023, vowed to continue until the government grants Maratha reservation, accusing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of delaying the ‘sage soyare’ notification for Kunbi status. Despite police extending protest permission to August 30, Jarange threatened escalation, including stopping water intake, if demands remain unmet. The agitation, backed by farmers and supporters from across Maharashtra, has sparked political debate, with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde promising no injustice to Marathas.

Also Read: Shinde Promises Fair Maratha Quota Resolution