Thane Women Stage Three-Hour Road Block Protest Over Eight-Year Delay In Shahapur-Khopoli Highway Work

On Tuesday, August 25, women from the Nadgaon area in Thane staged a three-hour road block protest against the prolonged delay in the construction of the Shahapur-Murbad-Patgaon-Khopoli highway. The protest took place on the pothole-ridden highway, with the women blocking traffic and performing traditional Mangala Gaur games to highlight their grievances. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), responsible for the project, did not send any officials to the protest site, infuriating the protesters.

The highway project, initiated in 2018, remains incomplete eight years later, leaving residents to deal with large potholes, unfinished stretches, dust, and mud. This has made daily commuting difficult for thousands of students, workers, farmers, traders, and patients who use the highway regularly. The poor road condition has increased accident risks and caused damage to vehicles, particularly affecting students, senior citizens, and pregnant women trying to reach schools, colleges, and hospitals.

The protesting women demanded that the highway project be resumed and completed immediately, with potholes filled and traffic issues addressed promptly. They alleged that their previous representations and protests had been ignored by the administration. Naib Tehsildar Sadanand Ghute and Police Inspector Vilas Kadam, representing the administration, eventually called off the protest by delivering a written communication to the women.

The agitation, led by Chandrakala Durge, received strong support from women and residents of several nearby villages, including Nadgaon, Bhatpada, Sakharpada, Shirgaon, Lenad, Donghar, Neharoli, and Shendrun.