Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange reached Mumbai for a protest at Azad Maidan, prompting major traffic curbs. Key routes like Eastern Freeway and Sion-Panvel highway are closed for regular vehicles.
Anticipating traffic disruption due to the Maratha quota protest in Mumbai today, several key routes have been closed for vehicular movement on Friday. These routes include the Eastern Freeway, the Sion-Panvel highway, among others. Except for the emergency service vehicles, no other traffic flow will be allowed on these routes. Activist Manoj Jarange will lead an agitation at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. Their demand is a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
Panvel-Sion Road, V N Purav Road, Eastern Freeway, P D’Mello Road, Wallchand Hirachand Marg, Dr Dadabhai Nauroji Road and Hajarimal Somani Road will be closed for all types of vehicular traffic except emergency service vehicles, said the official. The order was issued by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) on Thursday evening, said an official.The order will be in force from 6 am on Friday till further order, he added.
Jarange and his supporters were allowed by the Mumbai Police to proceed with their march after imposing 40 conditions, directing them to avoid any law-and-order situations. They are not to cause disruptions to the movement of vehicles and desist from avoiding “objectionable” slogans.
Activist Manoj Jarange has announced that he would launch an indefinite hunger strike at the Azad Maidan from Friday to press for reservation for the Maratha community. Accompanied by hundreds of vehicles, Jarange, who began his march from his village in Jalna district on Wednesday, reached Mumbai on Friday morning.