Holi 2025: Mumbai-Goa Highway, Mumbai-Pune Expressway Witness Massive Jams as Travelers Rush for Long Weekend
As Holi 2025 approaches, the Mumbai-Goa Highway and Mumbai-Pune Expressway have become a nightmare for travelers, with massive traffic jams stretching for kilometers. Thousands of vehicles are crawling along the highways as people rush to their hometowns or head to the Konkan region or elsewhere in the state for a long weekend getaway. The festival of Holi, which falls on Friday, March 14, has given holidaymakers the perfect opportunity to extend their celebrations, but the journey has been anything but smooth.
Mumbai to Pune Express way jam packed at khalapur to Lonavala. Several vehicles break down in https://t.co/CymLrqkVl5 many people leaving for Pune, Satara and tourists place,weekend home for Holi celebrations are fade up with traffic jam. #Longweekend @TimeMaharashtra pic.twitter.com/biNppLx69u
— Rajesh Kocharekar (@RajuKocharekar) March 13, 2025
The surge in traffic is compounded by ongoing construction work on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, which was initially slated for completion by December 2024. Delays in the project, including disputes between contractors and the collapse of a flyover in Chiplun, have pushed the expected completion date to 2026. Public Works Minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale recently inspected the progress and urged officials to expedite the work, but for now, travelers are bearing the brunt of the delays.
Many are heading to their native places to celebrate Holi with family, while others are escaping to the serene beaches and lush landscapes of Konkan for a much-needed break. However, the joy of the festival is being overshadowed by the frustration of being stuck in endless traffic. Social media is flooded with complaints and photos of bumper-to-bumper vehicles, with some travelers sharing tips on alternate routes to avoid the chaos.
Maharashtra: Traffic on the Mumbai-Goa Highway has increased due to a rise in the number of passengers heading to Konkan from Mumbai. Vehicles were seen in long queues pic.twitter.com/pdFZYHr1Su
— IANS (@ians_india) March 13, 2025
Authorities are advising commuters to plan their journeys carefully, carry essentials, and remain patient. Meanwhile, the state government has assured that all issues causing delays in the highway construction have been resolved, and efforts are being made to complete the project as soon as possible.
For now, the Mumbai-Goa Highway remains a symbol of both the excitement and challenges of the Holi long weekend.
