Frustrated by the crumbling state of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway (NH-48), severe traffic jams, and alleged government apathy, over 100 residents from the Naigaon-Chinchoti-Vasai region have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking permission to die by suicide.

On Friday, villagers from Sasunavghar, Maljipada, Sasupada, Bobat Pada, and Patharpada staged a protest along NH-48, demanding urgent action. What was once a one-hour commute has now stretched to five or six hours, they said. “Dying would be better than living like this,” said Sushant Patil, an activist with a local NGO leading the agitation.

In their letter to the Prime Minister, residents accused the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials of negligence and demanded disciplinary action. “Despite mul

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