Industrialist's Facebook post on Mumbai-Goa highway jam goes viral

Large numbers of migrant workers from the Konkan region are heading home for Ganeshotsav, but traffic jams and poor road conditions on the Mumbai-Goa highway have once again angered residents. Amid this, a Facebook post by industrialist Prashant Pawar, son of industrialist Vamanrao Pawar, has become a talking point on social media.

Every year during Ganeshotsav, migrants travelling to Konkan face traffic jams, bad roads and numerous travel difficulties. This year too, long queues of vehicles at several points on the highway caused considerable trouble for travellers. Prashant Pawar raised a direct question over the situation.

In his post, he wrote, "What exactly is the traffic police department doing? What answer do Maharashtra's ministers, MLAs and MPs have for this situation?"

Expressing frustration over politics of mere assurances, Prashant Pawar said clearly, "We don't want promises alone, real work needs to happen now." He also asked when a permanent solution would be found to the problems of roads, traffic and basic infrastructure.

A comment on the post by Kalnirnay editor Jayendra Salgaonkar also drew attention. Salgaonkar wrote, "Nobody pays special attention to Konkan... and the Konkani people also do not come together united." He cited the example of Kolhapur, where people set aside party loyalty and fought together against tolls, and said people in Konkan too need to set aside party differences and unite for their issues. He also said that six-seven years ago he had raised his voice on the same issue and it was published on the front page of a newspaper, but he regretted that not as many people came forward as should have.

Responding to Salgaonkar's comment, Prashant Pawar said the time has come to rise above party politics and unite for Konkan's issues. He said that for years there had only been assurances on the Mumbai-Goa highway issue. Union minister Nitin Gadkari has also repeatedly promised to complete the highway, but governments changed, parties changed, power changed hands, yet the highway issue remains unresolved.

Prashant Pawar said, "The people of Konkan should come together and directly ask their elected representatives, MLAs and MPs why concrete work is not being done for Konkan."

Clarifying that this stance is not against any one party, Prashant Pawar said the voice standing for Konkan must now grow louder. He also hinted that if the current elected representatives are unable to raise Konkan's issues effectively, it is time to think about alternatives.

With the traffic jam issue on the highway during Ganeshotsav having become serious, Prashant Pawar's post has reignited debate over Konkan's roads, traffic management and the role of elected representatives. Pawar also set out his slogan clearly: "Party later... Konkan first! Not promises... we want work! The voice must be raised... and it must be united!"