Subhechcha Ganguly 
Frustrated by the crumbling state of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway (NH-48), severe traffic jams, and alleged government apathy, over 100 residents from the Naigaon-Chinchoti-Vasai region have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking permission to die by suicide.
On Friday, villagers from Sasunavghar, Maljipada, Sasupada, Bobat Pada, and Patharpada staged a protest along NH-48, demanding urgent action. What was once a one-hour commute has now stretched to five or six hours, they said. “Dying would be better than living like this,” said Sushant Patil, an activist with a local NGO leading the agitation.
In their letter to the Prime Minister, residents accused the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials of negligence and demanded disciplinary action. “Despite multiple complaints, no concrete steps have been taken,” the letter read.
Protesters blamed the worsening congestion on the pothole-ridden highway, poor traffic management, and a surge in heavy vehicles. The situation has severely impacted daily life, with villagers missing exams, flights, and even emergency medical care. “The nearest hospital in Mira Road, which once took 20 minutes to reach, now takes over three hours,” Patil added.
The residents also alleged that officials ignored a directive from the Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police, which restricted heavy vehicle movement beyond Chinchoti Naka due to road repair work at Gaimukh Ghat in Thane. The violation, they said, led to massive gridlocks that paralyzed life across Naigaon and Chinchoti.
Following the protest, MBVV Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik announced the closure of the Chinchoti traffic branch and reassigned highway management duties to the Vasai and Virar traffic units to restore order.
Meanwhile, in Delhi-NCR, traffic snarls gripped key intersections including Moolchand Flyover, Chanakyapuri, Teen Murti Marg, and ITO amid the festive rush. The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories urging commuters to plan ahead, use navigation apps, and avoid unnecessary travel during peak hours.
With Diwali around the corner, authorities have intensified traffic management and cancelled leaves of all traffic personnel to ensure smoother movement across the capital.
