Farmers Block Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway at Kapurhol Chowk Over Power Project
Farmers and local residents affected by the proposed Bhongavli power project staged a rasta roko at Kapurhol Chowk in Bhor tehsil on Sunday, disrupting traffic on the Pune-Satara section of the Mumbai-Bengaluru highway.
The demonstration began around 10 am against the proposed GS Pune-III high-voltage power project at Bhongavli and its associated 765 kV transmission lines. Protesters from affected villages arrived at the highway junction bringing tractors, bullock carts, and cattle to block the corridor.
The protest was organised by the Bhor-Rajgad Tehsil Substation and Tower Line Removal Sangharsh Samiti. Agitators are opposing the power project, which includes 765/400/220 kV electricity infrastructure and high-voltage transmission lines traversing Bhongavli and several neighbouring villages across Bhor and Purandar talukas.
To manage the disruption, the local administration enforced major traffic diversions starting from 8 am until the conclusion of the agitation. The restrictions were issued under Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, following an assessment report by the Pune Rural Police.
Motorists travelling from Pune towards Satara were redirected through Narhe, Katraj, Kambla Khadi Machine, Saswad, Jejuri, and Nira before reconnecting with the highway towards Satara. Commuters moving in the opposite direction from Satara towards Pune were diverted through Shirwal or Pandharpur Phata, Lonand, Nira, Jejuri, and Saswad. Additional diversions were put in place for traffic moving between Saswad and Kapurhol, as well as routes heading from Pune towards Velhe.
The highway saw heavy baseline movement on Sunday due to tourists and pilgrims travelling to religious destinations such as Saswad, Jejuri, and Narayanpur during the ongoing Shravan month.
The demonstration follows earlier unrest at the project location. On August 2, a mob allegedly attacked the Bhongavli power substation site, setting fire to equipment, assaulting workers, and causing damage worth lakhs of rupees to machinery. The power infrastructure project is being developed across approximately 100 acres.
A heavy police contingent was stationed at Kapurhol Chowk to maintain law and order as the blockade continued through Sunday.
