Mumbai: Daily life in Mumbai was thrown into chaos on Friday as thousands of Maratha quota protesters converged on Azad Maidan, triggering major disruptions across the city. With crowds swelling at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and traffic crawling in several parts of south and east Mumbai, office-goers, students, and daily commuters were left grappling with severe inconvenience.

The protest, led by activist Manoj Jarange, brought large sections of Mumbai’s public transport network to a near halt. Overcrowded suburban trains, curtailed BEST bus services, and heavy traffic jams on arterial roads left lakhs of commuters stranded or delayed.

The Central Railway issued an urgent advisory asking passengers to avoid CSMT unless absolutely necessary. “In view of the heavy crowd gathering in and around the CSMT station, passengers are advised to travel to CSMT only if essential and unavoidable,” the Divisional Railway Manager posted on X.

 

Many protesters were seen resting and sleeping in the suburban concourse of CSMT, adding to the congestion and reducing space for regular commuters. Suburban trains, especially on the Harbour Line, were packed beyond capacity, with protesters boarding from various stations between Wadala and CSMT.

“All suburban stations and local trains on the Harbour line have been more crowded than usual. Maratha quota protesters were at all stations between Wadala and CSMT,” said a commuter.

The city's iconic red BEST buses were overwhelmed, with several routes diverted or curtailed. A BEST spokesperson confirmed that buses heading to south Mumbai on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg were terminated at Dadar, while others stopped at Bharatmata, Mumbai Central, and nearby locations due to congestion and road closures.

The Mumbai Traffic Police also urged motorists to avoid the Eastern Freeway, a vital route to south Mumbai. Jarange and his convoy arrived in the city via the same freeway, which was blocked due to parked vehicles and crowd control efforts.

The ripple effect of the agitation also reached educational institutions, many of which reported poor student attendance due to traffic disruptions and parental safety concerns.