Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
A massive traffic jam was witnessed once again on Wednesday in Ajanta Ghat on the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Jalgaon highway. The congestion, which began around 6:30 am, continued till 5 pm. The situation arose after three trucks broke down one after another in the ghat, along with an accident.
The jam started in the morning when a truck (MH 18 BJ 6862) heading towards Jalgaon crashed into the hillside while trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle. Soon after, another truck (MH 13 CT 0077) travelling from Jalgaon to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar broke down on the narrow road. Meanwhile, a third truck (MH 26-3499) developed an engine fault and came to a halt in the middle of the road. This led to long queues of vehicles on both sides of the ghat.
School students appearing for ongoing examinations were stranded in the jam, causing significant inconvenience. Tourists both domestic and international visiting the Ajanta Caves, ambulances, and even wedding processions were stuck for hours. Some smaller vehicles were diverted via alternative routes such as Soygaon–Halda or Tondapur–Dhawda.
Fardapur police prompt; delay from Ajanta police
To ease traffic, personnel from Fardapur Police Station Akash Gavale, Firoz Tadvi, and assistant Kedar Pawar quickly called mechanics and got the vehicles repaired. However, due to the delayed arrival of Ajanta police personnel at the spot, congestion continued to build on the upper side of the ghat. Around 5 pm, another truck carrying bricks developed a fault, but it was promptly repaired and moved ahead, after which traffic gradually normalised.
Reckless overtaking worsening the situation
Vehicles in the ghat often fail to maintain proper lane discipline. Two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and even ST buses attempt risky overtaking, blocking oncoming traffic. Non-compliance with traffic rules is aggravating the congestion. Tourists and motorists have demanded a permanent solution from the administration to prevent such recurring issues.