Mumbai: Motorists and daily commuters in Mumbai faced major disruptions on Friday as a large crowd gathered around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), while a protest at Azad Maidan led to widespread traffic congestion across South Mumbai.

The Central Railway’s Mumbai Division issued an advisory on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), urging passengers to avoid travelling to CSMT unless absolutely necessary. “In view of the heavy crowd gathering in and around the CSMT station, passengers are advised to travel to CSMT only if essential and unavoidable,” the advisory stated.

The warning sparked concern among office-goers who had already reached their workplaces earlier in the day, many of whom were unsure about how they would return home in the evening amidst the mounting chaos.

The Mumbai Traffic Police also released a traffic alert, cautioning motorists to avoid the Eastern Freeway due to the ongoing protest at Azad Maidan. “Due to agitation at Azad Maidan, avoid using Freeway. Please plan accordingly,” the department advised.

The protest, which drew significant crowds near one of the city’s busiest railway stations and arterial routes, led to long traffic jams, adding to the daily burden of Mumbai’s already overtaxed transport infrastructure.

Several users took to X to voice their frustration. “Why allow a protest which will cause daily commuters hardship?” one user questioned, tagging the Mumbai Traffic Police. Another, Darshil Desai, wrote, “Why allow any agitation on a working day? There is already traffic on Mumbai roads and now this. Why increase daily commuters’ hardship?”

Other users highlighted concerns about maintaining cleanliness and order around CSMT during such high-footfall situations, with one noting, “CSMT is our heritage! Please make sure to maintain cleanliness and hygiene across!”

“Friday’s disruptions highlight just how difficult it is for the authorities to strike a balance between allowing peaceful protest and keeping the city running smoothly,” said Mahesh Jain, 44, a daily commuter. “With more demonstrations expected before the elections, the authorities need to coordinate better among themselves before granting permission for such protests in the future.”

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli in the 2007 murder case of Mumbai Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar-Jamsandekar, after noting his long incarceration. Gawli, 76, had been booked under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 MCOCA.

While granting him bail, a bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh considered Gawli’s advanced age and the fact that his appeal seeking bail had been pending before the top court for 17 years and three months. The bench posted the matter for final hearing in February 2026.

Earlier, in June 2024, the top court had stayed the Bombay High Court’s decision granting premature release to Gawli. Following this, the top court extended its stay order on Gawli’s premature release.

Gawli, in his plea, claimed that the state authorities’ rejection of his application for premature release was unjust, arbitrary and liable to be set aside.

The Maharashtra government opposed his plea before the High Court for premature release. The HC had rejected the state government’s contentions and gave authorities four weeks to pass a consequential order in that regard.

However, on May 9, the government again moved the HC, seeking four months to implement the April 5 order stating that they had challenged the verdict by moving the top court.

The HC then gave the government four more weeks to implement the April 5 order for the premature release of Gawli and made it clear that no further extensions would be granted.

Gawli was arrested and underwent a trial in 2006 for the murder of Jamsandekar. In August 2012, the Sessions Court in Mumbai sentenced him to life imprisonment in the murder case.

Mumbai: Mumbai came to a near standstill on Friday as thousands of Manoj Jarange Patil-led Maratha Kranti Morcha supporters marched towards Azad Maidan, choking key roads in South Mumbai. Traffic bottlenecks were reported from almost every entry point into the city’s southern precincts, with CSMT, Fort and Nariman Point witnessing heavy jams.

The Eastern Freeway was completely blocked by protesters, while the Coastal Road saw a traffic snarl stretching from Priyadarshini Park (PDP) to Nariman Point, leaving motorists stranded for hours.

Mumbai Traffic Police issued repeated advisories warning commuters to avoid South Mumbai. “Due to agitation at Azad Maidan avoid using freeway, please plan accordingly,” read one update. Another said: “Due to political agitation, people are requested to avoid going towards CST and surrounding areas.”

BEST bus services were also thrown into disarray. In an update on X, the transport body admitted that with all roads around CSMT closed, buses in every direction had come to a halt. “No alternative routes are currently available for bus services. As a result, services are running irregularly,” the statement said.

On ground, visuals from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Fort area showed a sea of protesters marching in unison, waving placards and raising slogans as they blocked arterial roads. The sheer turnout pushed vehicular movement to a crawl across south-central Mumbai. Videos also showed hundreds of supporters gathered on CSMT’s platforms, adding to the chaos.

Traffic disruptions had begun early in the day from Byculla, where police barricades prevented vehicles carrying protesters from entering the JJ Flyover. Convoys were diverted towards Mohammad Ali Road, creating further pressure on busy stretches. On Thursday night, vehicles carrying Maratha supporters had been halted at the Carnac Bridge, with police directing them to park at the BPT premises in Wadi Bunder and continue on foot to Azad Maidan to avoid a complete shutdown of the city.

The protest’s timing has compounded the challenge for Mumbai Police. The massive mobilisation coincides with the opening days of Ganeshotsav, a festival that already draws lakhs to pandals across the city. Adding to the strain, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting Mumbai the same day for Ganesh festivities, necessitating multiple layers of security.

Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil, who has vowed to launch an indefinite hunger strike during Ganeshotsav, reached the city with thousands of followers, intensifying both the agitation and the law-and-order challenge.