Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Thursday, February 5, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Maharashtra government following a massive traffic gridlock on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The disruption, which lasted nearly 32 hours, was caused by a gas tanker overturning near the Adoshi tunnel on Tuesday evening. Thackeray has demanded that the government refund tolls to all affected commuters and questioned the administration's lack of a disaster management blueprint for the state’s busiest expressway.
The crisis began at approximately 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 3, when a tanker transporting highly flammable propylene gas overturned in the Khandala Ghat section. Due to the high risk of an explosion, authorities from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Highway Police immediately suspended traffic on the Mumbai-bound carriageway.
The blockage led to stationary queues stretching up to 20 kilometres, leaving thousands of motorists, including children and elderly passengers, stranded overnight without access to food, water, or sanitation. The expressway was only fully reopened at around 2:00 am on Thursday after the hazardous gas was safely transferred to secondary tankers and the damaged vehicle was cleared.
Taking to social media, Raj Thackeray expressed his outrage over the "inhuman" conditions faced by travellers. While acknowledging that stopping traffic was a necessary safety precaution, he questioned why it took more than a day to restore normalcy.
"The Mumbai-Pune Expressway was shut for 32 hours. Passengers suffered immensely, and as usual, the government has simply ordered an inquiry," Thackeray stated. "Does the government or the administration ever learn from these inquiries? After 24 years of this highway’s existence, why is there no action plan to clear the road in the shortest possible time during such emergencies?"
The MNS chief further argued that the government's responsibility should extend beyond just collecting tolls. He called for a total refund for those caught in the jam, asserting that the authorities failed to provide the basic services expected on a tolled road.
"Our movement against tolls was never just about the money; it was about the facilities provided in return," Thackeray added. "The government should refund the toll that was collected from passengers during this period. And instead of putting on the drama of inquiries, it should prepare a proper action plan — what other incidents can possibly happen."
In response to the public and political outcry, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the MSRDC to submit a detailed report on the incident. The inquiry will examine the cause of the accident—preliminarily linked to speeding—and evaluate the emergency response protocols.