NH-48 Disruption: Pune-Bengaluru Travellers Told to Take Alternative Routes Due to Kognoli Toll Plaza Protest
Pune, 14th October 2026: Traffic on National Highway 48 (NH-48) from Kolhapur towards Belagavi and Bengaluru remained disrupted on Wednesday morning as a protest continued at the Kognoli toll plaza in Karnataka, prompting the Maharashtra Highway Police to divert passenger and heavy vehicles through alternative routes.
In a supplementary traffic advisory issued on Wednesday, the Maharashtra Highway Police said the situation remained unchanged despite earlier advisories issued on October 13 and 14. The protest, which began on the morning of October 13, is over demands related to sugarcane prices, ethanol prices and other issues.
In coordination with the police forces of Pune Rural, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts, the Highway Police has prescribed separate alternative routes for passenger and heavy vehicles.
Passenger vehicles, including cars, jeeps and buses, travelling towards Belagavi have been diverted via Satara’s Bombay Restaurant junction, Rahimatpur, Pusegaon, Nevri, Vita, Tasgaon, Miraj, Kagwad, Raibag and Gokak before reaching Belagavi.
Heavy vehicles, including trucks, containers and trailers, have been directed to take the route via Satara, Karad, Peth Naka, Islampur, Ashta, Miraj, Kagwad, Raibag and Gokak before proceeding to Belagavi.
The police have urged motorists to avoid travelling from Mumbai towards Bengaluru via NH-48 until further notice and use the designated alternative routes. Drivers have also been asked to follow traffic police instructions and avoid unnecessary congestion.
The advisory clarified that traffic within Maharashtra remained unaffected, with vehicles travelling towards Kolhapur through the Karad, Sarola, Bhuiinj and Kavathe Mahankal toll-plaza jurisdictions moving smoothly.
The Highway Police said regular updates would be issued until the protest ends and traffic on NH-48 returns to normal. It has also requested Google Maps to mark the affected stretch as blocked, display delays and divert users to alternative routes until the disruption is resolved.
