Nagpur: A massive farmer protest under the banner of Maha Elgar Morcha, led by former MLA Bachchu Kadu, threw south Nagpur into chaos on Wednesday as thousands of farmers and supporters blocked key routes, including Wardha Road and the Outer Ring Road near the Oxygen Park flyover. The agitation brought traffic to a standstill for nearly 20 kilometres, forcing the toll plaza nearby to suspend operations entirely.
According to Prashant Borge, project in-charge of the Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd., which manages the toll plaza, the company incurred an estimated ₹50 lakh loss within 24 hours as vehicular movement came to a complete stop. “Both directions have been blocked since morning; no vehicle has crossed the toll booth,” he said.
As per the concession agreement, the toll operator must continue paying the government its fixed share even during disruptions. Financial relief can only be sought if the project remains affected for more than eight consecutive days. Until then, the private firm bears the entire financial loss.
The situation worsened through the afternoon as stranded commuters began breaking central dividers to create makeshift passages and escape the gridlock. Eyewitnesses said several car drivers used rods and tools to dismantle portions of the road divider near the Oxygen Park flyover, diverting toward the Umred Road side, where traffic was lighter. “People had been waiting for hours and lost patience,” said Akash Wankhede, a paan stall owner nearby.
No police personnel were present at the time to stop the act, as all traffic units were engaged in managing the large-scale blockade on Wardha Road. By the time enforcement teams reached the area, several stretches of the divider had already been damaged.
By evening, the traffic disruption had spread across Manish Nagar, Sonegaon, and Sitabuldi, with diverted vehicles choking inner city roads. Long-distance buses to Mumbai, Pune, and Aurangabad were delayed for hours, while freight transport from MIHAN and Butibori industrial areas came to a halt, impacting logistics and business operations.
The protest, organized by Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party, demanded a complete farm loan waiver, compensation for crop losses, and drought relief for affected farmers. Despite repeated requests from police and district authorities, Kadu refused to call off the protest. “We are ready for arrest but will not leave without justice for farmers,” he declared.
By nightfall, both the Outer Ring Road toll plaza and adjoining Wardha Road remained blocked, with trucks stranded bumper-to-bumper and toll lanes lying deserted. Officials warned that if the blockade continued for another day, losses could exceed ₹1 crore.
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