Mumbai, February 6 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) has taken a stance against the BJP-led Mahayuti government, asserting that the Chief Minister boldly declared on Republic Day that Maharashtra "will not stop" and will become "more dynamic." Nonetheless, the reality on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway tells a different story, as an unprecedented 32-hour traffic jam has effectively "cut the string" of the government’s ambitious claims.

The Thackeray faction, in the party's publication 'Saamana', contended that the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, once perceived as a "rosy dream" for motorists, has morphed into a "thorny truth." "What was intended to be a rapid and comfortable journey is now characterized by the constant anxiety of being stranded. While the government continues to promote new mega-highway projects such as the Samruddhi and Shaktipeeth, the current condition of the expressway starkly contrasts with the notion of a purportedly 'speedy' Maharashtra," it noted.

In reference to the traffic jam caused by a gas tanker overturning on the highway, the Thackeray camp pointed out the glaring divide between the administration's rhetoric and the actual state of infrastructure in the region. They have challenged the state government’s assertions regarding infrastructure and development.

The editorial indicated that the government seemed "helpless," lacking effective alternative routes or solutions to swiftly assist those stranded. Enormous lines of vehicles extended for 30 kilometers on each side of the expressway, leaving thousands of citizens without access to food or water.

Moreover, the ordeal did not conclude with the tanker incident. Just as the initial congestion began to dissipate, a cement container malfunctioned on the roadway between Talegaon and Malavali on Thursday. This second incident paralyzed traffic heading towards Mumbai for several additional hours, marking a second consecutive day of distress for commuters.

“While leaders proudly speak of projects like the 'Atal Setu', the 'Missing Link', and the Navi Mumbai International Airport, they appear powerless to manage existing critical routes. Although the expressway was a visionary initiative launched by the Shiv Sena chief decades ago, the administration has failed to adequately plan for the substantial increase in vehicle traffic observed over the past 25 years,” the Thackeray camp stated.

Furthermore, they likened the Chief Minister's recent directives to relevant agencies as akin to "locking the stable door after the horse has bolted."