On Thursday morning, large crowds of frustrated residents assembled at the Sasoonghar post office, each person holding a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These letters—described by locals as a collective “cry of despair”—were part of a desperate campaign demanding the government’s immediate intervention in the worsening traffic chaos on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad National Highway. The people of Vasai (East), who have endured years of relentless gridlock, pothole-ridden stretches, and mismanagement, have reached a breaking point. In a shocking expression of hopelessness, they are seeking official permission to end their lives, claiming they can no longer bear the daily ordeal. More than a hundred such letters were dispatched on the very first day of the protest, symbolizing the depth of anger and frustration brewing among residents.
Citizens argue that if the government is genuinely committed to safeguarding their lives, it must urgently focus on completing the long-delayed service roads and enforcing proper traffic regulation along the highway. They emphasize that the current condition of the road poses an ongoing threat to life and livelihood, and that negligence from authorities has only worsened the crisis.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad National Highway, which cuts through densely populated areas such as Sasoonghar, Maljipada, Sasupada, Bobatpada, and Patharpada, has turned into a constant source of suffering for thousands of daily commuters. Locals report that deep potholes, unregulated movement of heavy vehicles, and the absence of effective traffic control have turned even short commutes into exhausting journeys.
For many, this highway is a vital lifeline connecting them to Thane, Kashimira, Vasai, and Naigaon—towns essential for accessing food, hospitals, workplaces, and schools. However, persistent jams have brought regular life to a near standstill. Villagers say they have made countless appeals, held protests, and submitted written complaints, yet officials continue to turn a blind eye. “We have explained in our letters why we are driven to such an extreme decision,” one resident said bitterly.
“Officials ignore our pleas. No one inspects the roads. Every time we protest, we are met with silence. What options are left for us now? If the government refuses to help us live, then it should at least permit us to die,” another local lamented.
Sushant Patil, president of the Bhoomiputra Foundation, stated that the crisis has been ongoing for over a decade. “We’ve been living with unbearable traffic since 2014,” he said. “From the endless repairs on the Versova Bridge to the construction of the new bridge, the concrete road works, and the Gaimukh Ghat projects—development keeps being announced, but traffic management is completely ignored. It’s the common villagers who continue to suffer every single day.”
Women from the affected localities voiced special concern about the toll on children’s safety and education. “Because of this unending traffic, our children are often late for school or miss classes entirely,” one mother said. “We are beginning to question whether sending them to school is even worth the risk anymore.”
In short, what began as frustration over traffic has grown into a deep social crisis, where desperation, neglect, and bureaucratic apathy have pushed ordinary citizens to the brink.
