29 October,2026 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
Frozen traffic on the bridge spanning the Vasai creek. Pic/X/@vrochlani
A 26-year-old woman was killed after being run over by a heavy container truck amid massive traffic congestion on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Wednesday morning, as protests in Thane over the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar disrupted traffic across the region.
The congestion stretched for nearly 20 to 27 km between the Versova bridge, which spans the Vasai creek, and Virar limits, leaving motorists stranded for hours. The deceased, Dhanashree Paresh Sonawane, resided at Gandhi Pada in Ganeshpuri, Bhiwandi. The precise circumstances leading to her death are yet to be established.
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Traffic on the Mumbai- and Thane-bound lanes of the highway was severely affected from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The congestion began around Virar and Mandvi before extending towards Mira Road, Nalasopara, Vasai and Naigaon. Vehicles travelling from Ahmedabad towards Mumbai and Thane were particularly affected.
Sanjay Shintre, additional commissioner of police (traffic), Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate, said, "The trouble in Thane, where roads were blocked and heavy vehicles were restricted, affected us here as well. Vehicles coming from Ahmedabad towards Mumbai and Thane were impacted."
The highway was already witnessing slow movement due to ongoing roadwork between Virar and Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT). The additional pressure from the disruption in Thane further aggravated the situation.
Shintre clarified that traffic had not come to a complete standstill, contrary to claims circulating about the situation. "It is not stalled as people are saying. The traffic is moving very slowly, and we are allowing vehicles to pass gradually," he said.
More than 300 traffic personnel were deployed along the affected 27-km stretch, with zonal deputy commissioners of police, personnel from six police stations and two assistant commissioners of police working to regulate the flow of vehicles.
Pankaj Raut, a Palghar resident, said, "Traffic is a regular issue on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway. The only difference between Tuesday night and Wednesday was an additional two hours of delay. Earlier, people would get stuck for around two hours on this highway," Raut said.
He also alleged that containers heading towards Mumbai airport were travelling on the wrong side of the road on Wednesday, further worsening the congestion.
Motorist Vishal H Rochlani posted on X, "Stuck at the NH48 Vasai bridge for three hours and not a single movement since then. Also, there was no traffic police to clear it. It is due to heavy vehicles I guess. Frustrated."
The protests in Thane erupted on Tuesday night over the September 29 murder of Purnekar. His supporters demanded the arrest of former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband, Rajendra Shinde, whom the victim's family has accused of involvement in the murder. The allegations have not been established.
The agitation intensified after police detained Purnekar's son, Ram, on Tuesday afternoon while he was attempting to march towards Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's residence to demand action in the case.
Beginning outside Naupada police station, the protests spread to Manpada, Balkum-Bhiwandi Road, Chitalsar, and Kasarvadavli, with congestion extending towards Kapurbawdi. Protesters blocked the highway near Manpada Chowk and burnt tyres at several locations, bringing traffic on Ghodbunder Road and connecting stretches to a standstill.
Commuters travelling between Thane and Mumbai were stranded for nearly seven hours. Some reportedly abandoned their vehicles and walked several kilometres to reach their destinations.
Police intervened to disperse protesters and clear the roads. Around 3 am on Wednesday, personnel reportedly resorted to a lathi-charge at Manpada Chowk after protesters allegedly refused to disperse.
Some protesters subsequently attempted to pelt the police with stones. "Traffic movement gradually resumed after the blockade was cleared. Traffic returned to normal around 4 am," a senior traffic police official told mid-day.
