Ganesh Chaturthi festival is in two days, prompting people to visit Konkan on Saturday morning. As a result, there was a significant increase in vehicular traffic on both the Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Pune expressways. The Kharepatan toll booth on the Mumbai-Goa highway saw vehicles passing through at a rapid pace every morning. However, on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, traffic was redirected towards the Khed and Mahad toll booths during the day.
In the evening on Saturday, around 1,200 buses departed from Mumbai to reach Konkan. Consequently, the number of vehicles on the highway increased during the night. To manage this, a substantial police force has been deployed on the highways, and 40 motorcycle squads have been assigned to control traffic congestion. Ten traveler assistance centers have also been set up along the highways.
Traffic congestion points can be expected at several places, including Nagthane, Kolad, Indapur, and Mangaon. The roads in these areas are still under construction, leading to a bottleneck in traffic flow. Therefore, commuters should be prepared for potential delays, especially during Saturday night and Sunday morning.
While work on the Mumbai-Goa highway's expansion is ongoing, it's essential for Ganesh devotees to use the Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore highway to reach their destinations in Konkan. This diversion contributes to an increase in traffic on this route during the Ganesh festival. On Saturday mornings, the traffic congestion at the Khopoli toll booth on the Mumbai-Pune expressway was particularly notable. However, there were no significant delays on the Bor Ghat section.
It's crucial to be aware of these traffic conditions and
plan your travel accordingly if you're heading to Konkan for Ganesh Chaturthi
celebrations.