For a second consecutive day, parts of India’s financial capital were paralyzed on Saturday as thousands of protesters demanding expanded caste-based reservations flooded central Mumbai, disrupting traffic and straining public infrastructure.
The demonstrations, centered outside the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway hub in south Mumbai, left several arterial roads clogged for hours during peak travel times. Protesters blocked intersections, parked vehicles on key roads, and even cooked food on the side of the road, forcing commuters to endure long delays.
Impact on Daily Life
- Traffic Chaos: Vehicles, including public buses, were stranded for nearly two hours, with movement permitted only for ambulances and emergency personnel. Mumbai’s traffic police diverted at least 24 bus routes, urging motorists on social media to avoid central corridors and use alternative roads.
- Public Transport: Suburban train services—lifelines for millions of Mumbai residents—continued to operate, though with slight delays, according to Central Railway officials.
- Security Measures: Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Rapid Action Force (RAF), were deployed to prevent escalation. Inside CSMT, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel appealed for calm.
Protesters’ Demands
The agitation is part of a long-running movement by the Maratha community, one of Maharashtra state’s most influential groups, seeking greater access to government jobs and educational quotas under India’s affirmative action system. Protesters stated that they lacked basic facilities during the sit-in, including toilets, drinking water, and shelter, and vowed to continue until their demands are met.
Broader Context
The Maratha reservation issue has been a persistent source of contention in Maharashtra politics for years, frequently triggering large-scale protests that strain law enforcement capacity in Mumbai. India’s caste-based reservation system, designed to address historical social and economic inequalities, has increasingly become a flashpoint as more communities demand inclusion.
While Saturday’s demonstration was largely peaceful, the scale of disruption underscored the sensitivity of the issue and its ability to affect daily life in one of the world’s busiest megacities.
