Maharashtra Bandh: Here are the Most Affected Areas in Mumbai
Certain areas in Mumbai were blocked and vehicles vandalised, despite heightened policing.
advertisement
Blocked roads and highways, stones being pelted at vehicles, and chaos at the railway stations – this is how things escalated in Mumbai when a Maharashtra bandh was called on account of the Bhima Koregaon clashes. People were sharing visuals of the protest on Twitter and Facebook.
While most of Mumbai was affected by the bandh, certain areas like Thane and Chembur witnessed tense moments. Here’s a look at the the areas most affected by the protests.
Chembur
Chembur witnessed heavy violence. Protesters vandalised buses and pelted stones at vehicles. The protesters had also blocked several adjoining roads, making it difficult for commuters to travel to or from the area.
Thane
On Wednesday, 3 January, a group of protesters tried to stop a train at the Thane railway station. In an image tweeted by ANI, the protesters were seen in front of the train carrying Dalit rights and Ambedkar movement flags.
In the Chendani Koliwada area of Thane, two municipal buses and an auto-rickshaw were vandalised, with four passengers reportedly getting injured in the clashes.
In other parts of Thane, the protesters had closed down toll booths, causing a major traffic jam.
Eastern Express & Western Express Highway
The Eastern Express Highway was among the areas where the conflict escalated in Mumbai. According to various posts on social media, the protesters had blocked a part of the Eastern Express Highway. As a result, people commuting through the area were stuck in traffic jams for hours.
The protesters had made their way to the Western Express Highway as well, blocking the part of it.
Ghatkopar, Powai & Mulund
Ghatkopar railway station was temporarily blocked due to which several central line trains, which pass through the area, were delayed. Metro services from Ghatkopar were also reportedly halted.
The area around Powai too, especially JVLR and Saki Naka, were blocked too. Additionally, a BEST bus and a car in Powai was vandalised by the protesters.
The toll booth at Mulund was also closed down, leading to chock-a-block traffic.
Goregaon
A source told The Quint that his friend’s mother was travelling past Goregaon in an auto-rickshaw on Wednesday morning, when it was stopped by a group of protesters, who forced her to get out of the auto and began to beat up the auto-driver.
In another part of Goregaon, news of violent clashes also reached the public, who began to grow increasingly dissatisfied with the efforts of the local police to contain the matter.
While the Mumbai police has been repeatedly stating that they are making every effort to bring the situation under control, the protesters are still vandalising vehicles, pelting stones and blocking roads.