16 hrs ago
Ganeshotsav Exodus Brings Thane Routes Toward Mumbai-Goa Highway To Standstill
Many people were traveling to the Konkan region for Ganeshotsav.
This created very heavy traffic around Thane and nearby roads.
Cars, state buses and private coaches were all using the same routes.
Important roads such as the Mumbra Bypass and Shilphata–Kattai stretch became packed.
Some travelers needed almost two hours just to reach Panvel.
One bus reportedly took nearly 12 hours to reach Chiplun from Mumbai.
Road construction and crowded market areas made the journey slower.
More than 5,200 buses were operating on routes toward the Konkan region.
Atal Setu and toll-free routes were helping traffic cross Navi Mumbai faster, but major delays remained.
Heavy Ganeshotsav traffic brought movement across Thane and adjoining areas close to a standstill on September 12, 2026.
The Mumbra Bypass, Majiwada flyover and Shilphata–Kattai road were among the worst-affected routes.
Queues from Palaspe Phata extended toward Navi Mumbai and Thane’s border areas, affecting commuters and buses.
More than 5,200 buses were operating toward Ratnagiri and other Konkan destinations, according to a Maharashtra ST Karmachari Congress official.
Travellers reported taking nearly two hours to reach Panvel and up to 12 hours to travel from Mumbai to Chiplun.
- Who
- Thousands of festival travelers, private motorists, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses and private tourist coaches.
- What
- A major traffic jam slowed travel from Thane toward Panvel and the Mumbai-Goa Highway during the Ganeshotsav exodus.
- Where
- Thane and adjoining areas, including the Mumbra Bypass, Majiwada flyover, Shilphata–Kattai road, Palaspe Phata, Navi Mumbai and the Mumbai-Goa Highway.
- When
- Saturday, September 12, 2026.
- Why
- Traffic increased because of festival travel, while highway construction, market-area congestion and bottlenecks around Chembur and Vashi added to delays.
Key facts
- Festival
- Ganeshotsav
- Date
- September 12, 2026
- Buses operating toward Konkan
- More than 5,200
- Worst-affected routes
- Mumbra Bypass, Majiwada flyover and Shilphata–Kattai road
- Reported travel time to Panvel
- Nearly two hours from Parel by bus
- Reported Mumbai-to-Chiplun travel time
- Nearly 12 hours
- Additional causes
- Mumbai-Goa Highway construction and congestion in market areas
Quotes
Snehal Kulkarni
A motorist stuck near Mumbra Bypass
“Bus movement towards Ratnagiri and other parts of the Konkan region is currently very high. There is a possibility of delays as the number of buses operating on particular routes has suddenly increased. More than 5,200 buses are operating on these routes. Every year, commuters face similar problems. Besides this, bottlenecks in the Chembur area and on the Vashi Bridge could further add to the delays.”
freepressjournal.in
“I took a bus from Parel depot to Sawantwadi, but there was heavy traffic on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. It took almost two hours just to reach Panvel. I usually prefer travelling by train, but this time I could not get a train ticket.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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