The congestion unfolded as vehicles lined up bumper-to-bumper for several kilometres, turning a routine intercity commute into a prolonged ordeal. The disruption coincided with a long weekend triggered by Maharashtra Day and Labour Day, prompting a significant increase in outbound travel from Mumbai towards Pune, Lonavala, and various hometown destinations.
Heavy traffic began building early in the morning but rapidly escalated into a near-complete standstill. Commuters reported delays ranging from two to three hours on the expressway, with minimal vehicular movement through the ghat stretch.
Among those affected was Supriya Sule, Member of Parliament and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction), who was travelling from Mumbai to Pune. Sule remained stuck in the traffic congestion for nearly two to three hours. She shared a video from inside her vehicle, capturing the scale of the gridlock, with long rows of vehicles barely advancing along the mountainous route.
The incident highlights the recurring challenges faced during peak travel periods on critical intercity corridors, where infrastructure strain and increased vehicular load combine to disrupt mobility and cause widespread commuter distress.
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