India, Sept. 1 -- Traffic on the Pune-Mumbai routes surged on Sunday as thousands from the Maratha community travelled to Mumbai to join the ongoing protest led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil at Azad Maidan. Long queues of MSRTC buses, private vehicles, and jeeps were seen on both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old highway, causing congestion at toll plazas and key junctions.

To manage the increased demand, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) deployed additional buses from major depots, including Swargate, Shivajinagar, and Hadapsar. Despite the extra services, most buses were filled, with many protestors hiring private buses and vans to reach Mumbai in large groups.

In contrast, Pune railway stations witnessed...