Mumbai witnessed unprecedented traffic disruptions on Friday as thousands of Maratha Kranti Morcha supporters, led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, converged on South Mumbai ahead of a major agitation at Azad Maidan. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and the Fort area turned into a sea of protesters, with visuals showing massive crowds waving flags, raising slogans, and completely blocking arterial roads.

The overwhelming turnout brought vehicular movement to a near halt, creating severe traffic snarls across the city. Some videos also captured a huge gathering on CSMT platforms as protesters made their way to the protest site.

The traffic chaos began early in the day when police restricted the entry of protest vehicles onto the JJ Flyover from Byculla, diverting them toward Mohammad Ali Road and already congested routes.

On Thursday night, convoys carrying Maratha supporters were stopped from crossing the Carnac Bridge. To prevent a total shutdown of South Mumbai, traffic authorities directed these vehicles to park at the BPT premises in Wadi Bunder, forcing many protesters to walk to Azad Maidan.

Anticipating the scale of the agitation, Mumbai Police implemented one of their largest security deployments in recent times. Nearly 1,000 officers have been stationed at Azad Maidan alone, turning it into a virtual fortress. Additionally, 18,000 police personnel are already on Ganeshotsav duty across the city.

To strengthen security further, the deployment includes two Additional Commissioners, six Deputy Commissioners, 200 Assistant Commissioners and Inspectors, along with 800 constables. Specialized units such as the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Riot Control Squad, Quick Response Team (QRT), CRPF companies, and bomb disposal squads have been kept on high alert.

The timing of the protest has posed a major challenge for security forces, coinciding not only with the opening days of Ganeshotsav—a festival that draws massive crowds—but also with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the city. Shah is scheduled to attend prominent Ganesh mandals and interact with BJP leaders, requiring parallel security arrangements at multiple venues.

Manoj Jarange Patil, who has vowed to launch an indefinite hunger strike during the festival period, has already reached Mumbai with thousands of supporters, intensifying the city’s law and order challenge amid festive celebrations.