Overview

• The incident occurred Wednesday morning in Thane as Forest Minister Ganesh Naik traveled from Navi Mumbai to Palghar for a District Planning Committee meeting.
• A police-escorted convoy took a U-turn and proceeded against traffic, with videos and photos showing the minister inside his car.
• Commuters expressed anger on social media, framing the episode as unequal enforcement of traffic rules for officials and ordinary citizens.
• Officials said the convoy was stuck between the Versova and Khanivda toll plazas and that Naik used the Virar–Safale Ro-Ro service to bypass the congestion.
• Police attributed the gridlock to a ‘mega block’ near Gaimukh and heavy vehicles parked in the road, while MLAs demanded time restrictions for trucks and criticized highway police performance, with no penalties for the convoy reported.