Villegers Block Bhavnagar-Somnath Highway, Demand Bridge After Series of Fatal Accidents

Hundreds of villagers blocked the Bhavnagar-Somnath highway at Umaniyavadar in Mahuva taluka on Friday, severely disrupting vehicular traffic to protest the authorities' failure to construct a bridge in the region.

Led by Rajubhai Solanki, state president of the Veer Mandhata Sanghatana, residents from Umaniyavadar and 25 surrounding villages took to the streets, citing a rising toll of serious and fatal accidents on the stretch.

Police personnel deployed at the scene took preventive measures and detained several protesters, including Solanki, to restore traffic flow. However, angry villagers warned that the agitation would intensify in the coming days unless a permanent solution is delivered.

Escalating Protest over Highway Safety

The blockade marks a significant escalation in the local movement, coming after previous administrative inaction pushed residents to take direct action.

• Widespread Participation: Residents from nearly 25 nearby villages joined the Umaniyavadar blockade to demand immediate infrastructure intervention.
• Accident Hotspot: Local commuters face severe hazards while crossing the Bhavnagar-Somnath highway, leading to regular crashes and loss of lives.
• Prolonged Apathy: Villagers stated that repeated representations over a long period failed to move the local administration into action.
• Prior Electoral Boycott: Before taking to the streets on Friday, frustrated residents had previously boycotted elections to register their protest.
• Police Intervention: Security forces deployed preventive measures against key leaders and demonstrators to clear the blocked highway.

Demands for Permanent Infrastructure

Crossing the highway without a designated bridge has turned into a daily hazard for commuters and local residents. With traffic resuming after police intervention, villagers reiterated that temporary clearances would not quieten their movement.

The protesters maintained that they would continue to fight until the administration grants formal approval and begins work on a bridge to secure the highway crossing for Umaniyavadar and its neighboring villages.