New Delhi: Maharashtra’s key highway network once again came to a standstill on Monday as the summer holiday rush began. The incident happened just weeks after a 33-hour traffic snarl on one of the busiest corridors, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Since the early hours, severe congestion was reported on the Pune-Mumbai expressway and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway, with kms-long jams near key areas. The long queues of vehicles stretched between 3-4 kilometres, witnessing slow-moving cars from Adoshi Tunnel to Khalapur.

Mumbai Pune Expressway. Traffic jam on Mumbai bound carriageway 🙆🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/owLeh4ZEnB

— Pushkar Risbud (@pushkar_risbud) March 30, 2026

The exact reason for the congestion is unclear, with officials suspecting a sharp spike in traffic towards tourist destinations, especially in ghat areas. To avoid traffic congestion, police have been deployed at key areas, and relief has been gradual.

Traffic jam flooded on Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway

The condition on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway seems similar to traffic queues extending up to 6-7 kilometres. The commuters travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai reported being stuck for 3-4 hours.

However, this congestion was more likely due to the ongoing infrastructure work. The flyover construction, coupled with vehicle surge, reduced road capacity and created choke points, which caused delays.

What’s causing highway chaos

The recurring congestion on these highways represents the structural problem. The ghat areas on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway are the most vulnerable due to sharp gradients, heavy vehicle movement and limited lane expansion possible.

Another addition to it is the construction work going on to upgrade flyovers and missing link projects, leading to consistent traffic jams in the areas. The condition gets worse at the time of seasonal surge during holidays and weekends as the system gets pushed beyond its operational width.

Authorities have advised the commuters to avoid peak hours and pick alternate routes where possible. The travellers are advised to carry sufficient water and food in case they get stuck in the prolonged traffic. The strict regulations have been mentioned for heavy vehicles during peak hours to prevent breakdowns.