Commuters along the busy Pune–Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48) received partial relief on Wednesday after protesting farmers called off their 28-hour blockade at the Hattargi and Kongoli toll plazas.
According to the latest traffic update, both Hattargi and Kognoli toll plazas are completely open to traffic. However, the blockade at Hirebagewadi continues to affect motorists.
Protest Shifts to a Foot March Toward Hubballi
Rather than ending their agitation, farmer organisations have changed tactics—transitioning from a stationary highway blockade to a massive foot march (padayatre) toward Hubballi.
The protesters plan to stage a demonstration near the residence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to press the Central Government into addressing their long-standing agricultural demands.
According to protest leaders, the marching farmers will make an initial halt at Kakati before proceeding through Belagavi toward Hire Bagewadi, eventually continuing along the highway toward Hubballi.
Key Demands Behind the Agitation
The highway blockade, which began at approximately 10:00 AM on Tuesday at Hattargi, brought commercial transport and passenger movement to a standstill for over a day, forcing police to divert vehicles onto alternative state routes.
Farmer unions escalated the demonstrations across the Hattargi, Hire Bagewadi, and Kognoli toll plazas after earlier rounds of negotiations with the Central Government failed to produce a concrete resolution. The protesting cultivators are pressing for three primary economic revisions:
- Sugarcane Procurement Price: Fixing the price at ₹5,500 per tonne.
- Sugar Minimum Selling Price (MSP): Increasing the floor price of sugar to ₹50 per kilogram.
- Ethanol Pricing: An upward revision in procurement rates for ethanol.
Current Highway Status at a Glance
| Toll Plaza / Stretch | Status | Traffic Advisory / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Kognoli (Border) | Completely Open | Traffic movement fully restored on both sides. |
| Hattargi | Completely Open | Blockade cleared; normal vehicular flow resumed on both lanes. |
| Hire Bagewadi | Still Closed | Completely blocked; motorists travelling towards Dharwad/Hubballi are advised to take alternative routes. |
| Kakati – Belagavi Stretch | Slow / Alert | Protesters are marching on foot along this route toward Hubballi; expect localized congestion. |
