Raj Thackeray Slams State Government Over Prolonged Mumbai–Pune Expressway Shutdown
Raj Thackeray Slams State Government Over Prolonged Mumbai–Pune Expressway Shutdown
Raj Thackeray Targets Government Over 32-Hour Mumbai–Pune Expressway Closure, Demands Accountability
Mumbai, February 5, 2026: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has criticised the state government for the nearly 32-hour closure of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, saying it exposed poor planning and lack of administrative readiness.
In a post shared on social media, Thackeray said thousands of commuters were left stranded after a gas tanker overturned on the expressway around 5 pm on Tuesday, February 3. While he agreed that stopping traffic was necessary for public safety, he questioned whether the authorities had any proper emergency plan to quickly restore traffic flow.
Thackeray noted that the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, which was built based on the vision of late Balasaheb Thackeray, has completed 24 years. Despite this, he alleged that no serious planning had been done over the years to deal with emergencies or to maintain the road at top standards. He said toll collection appeared to be the only activity carried out efficiently.
Referring to the MNS’s earlier protests against tolls, Thackeray clarified that the party was never against toll collection itself, but against the poor facilities provided to commuters despite charging toll fees. He questioned whether the government’s role ends only with constructing roads and collecting tolls.
The MNS leader also criticised the state budget announcement of a Mumbai–Pune high-speed train, saying such projects may take years to become reality. According to him, the immediate focus should be on ensuring safe, smooth and dependable road travel between Mumbai and Pune.
Thackeray demanded that toll fees collected during the period of disruption be refunded to commuters. He also urged the government to stop conducting routine inquiries and instead come up with a clear and practical action plan for handling emergencies. Questioning the role of guardian ministers, he asked why citizens continue to feel helpless and called on the government to take responsibility for the situation.
