Traffic jam on NH-48: Rain causes 5 km long traffic on Ankleshwar-Surat route

Heavy rains on Saturday led to a 5-kilometer-long traffic jam on the Surat-bound lane of National Highway 48 near Ankleshwar, leaving drivers stranded in long queues and causing severe inconvenience.

Meanwhile, in Valsad, taxi drivers blocked the highway demanding compensation for vehicle damage caused by potholes on the rain-battered NH-48, further worsening traffic on the busy route.

Heavy rainfall in Bharuch district have left highways in poor condition, with frequent water logging near Valia Chokdi due to narrow drainage causing daily traffic jams. Continuous rain over the past 24 hours led to another severe jam, forcing thousands of commuters to face long delays, prompting locals to demand a permanent solution.

On NH-48 in Valsad, large potholes and waterlogging due to administrative negligence have made driving hazardous, leading to frequent accidents while authorities remain silent.

The 130-kilometer stretch of NH-48 from Palsana, Surat to Umargam near Maharashtra border is under a ₹100 crore maintenance contract with Gurgaon-based Skylark agency, but heavy rains have again worsened the road despite ongoing patchwork.

On Friday night, the Taxi Association and Valsad local drivers blocked the highway at Bagwada Toll Plaza in Pardi, sitting on the road with banners stating ‘No Road, No Toll Tax’ and ‘Fill the Potholes’, bringing traffic to a standstill and expressing anger against poor road conditions.