Manoj Jarange’s Mumbai March: 10 Things to Watch This Time

Manoj Jarange, the fire‑brand Maratha‑quota activist, has set out on his third road‑to‑Mumbai journey. After a grueling 18‑day hunger strike in Jalna, he is now eyeing Azad Maidan for a fresh demonstration – provided the police finally give the nod.

His previous march, staged in late August and early September 2023, turned a large slice of south Mumbai into a virtual parking lot. Streets that usually buzz with a hundred‑plus thousand vehicles were suddenly clogged, and the city learned a hard lesson about how quickly a protest can grind daily life to a halt. This time around, officials have already turned down two permission requests, and a third – for a modest gathering of about 50 people on September 18 – is still hanging in the balance.

Below are ten tell‑tale signs that may re‑appear, should the protest get the green light (or if Jarange decides to march in spite of the denial, as his supporters have vowed).

1. Road closures around Azad Maidan and CSMT. During the last agitation, more than twenty‑one major arteries were blocked or diverted, snarling traffic flow through one of the city’s most congested corridors.

2. BEST bus schedules thrown into disarray. Over sixty bus routes missed a beat, leaving commuters stranded or forced to improvise with alternate rides.

3. Central and Harbour line trains packed tighter than ever. With road options throttled, office‑goers and students swarmed the local train network, turning a typical rush‑hour ride into a sardine‑can experience.

4. Emergency services slowed down. Ambulances and police patrols found it hard to cut through the barricades, meaning response times stretched longer than usual – a real concern for anyone with a medical appointment in the area.

5. BMC headquarters operating on a skeleton crew. The civic body’s main office, perched right opposite Azad Maidan, kept only two of its gates half‑open last time, effectively sealing off its immediate surroundings.

6. Protesters camping on footpaths. Supporters from Marathwada, Vidarbha, Satara and other districts set up makeshift camps, cooking meals and sleeping on the streets, rain or shine, even near the J.J. School of Art.

7. Online deliveries marked “undeliverable”. E‑commerce couriers couldn’t navigate the maze of crowds and barricades, leaving residents with delayed or failed orders.

8. Ripple‑effect roadblocks beyond the protest zone. The chaos spilled over to neighborhoods like Breach Candy, where sections of the Coastal Road were cordoned off as marchers moved south‑bound.

9. Business and event disruptions. A string of shops, museums and cultural events called off their programmes – Kitabkhana postponed a book launch, and the CSMVS museum shut its doors indefinitely.

10. A parallel legal showdown. The Bombay High Court stepped in last year, slamming both authorities and protestors for the stand‑still and ordering an immediate clearance. This time, Jarange has warned he will approach the court again if the police refuse permission by Tuesday afternoon.

Why might this year be different? Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly asked Jarange to rethink the timing, citing the ongoing Ganesh otsav celebrations. He argues that most of the community’s demands have already been addressed and that any remaining issues should be resolved through legal channels, not street blockades.

For now, the city holds its breath. If the police finally sign off, we could be looking at another round of gridlock. If they don’t, the legal battle may become the main drama. Either way, commuters, businesses and anyone with a medical appointment in south Mumbai should keep a close eye on the developing story.