Traffic snarls in South Mumbai as SC quota protesters converge near CSMT

Traffic movement in parts of South Mumbai was severely affected on Tuesday after thousands of members of Sakal Matang Samaj gathered near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to press for sub-categorisation of the Scheduled Caste reservation. The protesters had permission to gather at Azad Maidan, but they started to spill onto the roads around CSMT, disrupting traffic to South Mumbai. Metro Cinema Road was shut due to the demonstration, with traffic diverted from the CP office area.

The protest was organised over the demand to divide the 13 per cent Scheduled Caste reservation into four categories — A, B, C and D. Around five lakh Sakal Matang Samaj members from across Maharashtra were expected to converge in the city for the demonstration. According to police, protesters indicated they would not leave Mumbai until the government issues a Government Resolution (GR) on the demand. Police officials made constant announcements requesting people to gather at the designated protest site.

Senior police officials have been deployed at the protest sites to manage the gathering and regulate traffic. "Adequate police are present at the spot. We are monitoring the situation, and there is no law and order situation near CSMT and the BMC office," a police official said.