When faith blocks the road: Sacred tree halts bus service in Radhanagri, leaves villagers stranded

Kolhapur: For nearly two weeks, a state transport bus route in Radhanagari taluka has fallen silent, not because of a breakdown or road damage, but because of a “sacred” roadside tree whose branches no one is willing to touch.The disruption has forced residents of Aini, Talewadi and Ategaon villages to walk several kilometres every day to access the nearest bus stop, even as schools and colleges prepare to reopen, threatening to deepen hardship for students and commuters alike.The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) halted services along the route after drivers reported that overhanging branches of a 40-year-old tree in Pandewadi village, located 10km from the tehsil town, could damage windshields and endanger passengers. But the problem has proven harder than a routine clearance job. Caught between safety and faith, authorities have found no easy way forward.Villagers insist the tree is sacred, associated with the Nagoba deity, and have refused to trim its branches. While villagers insist they will not touch the tree, they have no objection to official action. However, the public works department (PWD) teams failed to proceed after workers themselves refused to trim what they consider holy.“The devotees sought answers from the oracle thrice. Each time, it said the tree should not be harmed,” said Shivaji Chougale, the former sarpanch of Pandewadi, and current zilla parishad member. He added that the bus service was stopped “without informing people properly,” and alleged that at times, the service is anyway very irregular.Officials, caught between safety protocols and faith sensitivities, have effectively ceded ground, allowing a single tree to dictate mobility for nearly 3,500 residents.Mounting frustration has forced some action. After Aini villagers threatened a strike, the MSRTC authorities conducted a trial run on Wednesday. A bus was sent through the stretch, and it was able to pass without touching the branches. Still, transport officials remain cautious.“The driver and conductor reported that branches hit the bus, and passenger safety could be at risk. So we stopped the service,” said Radhanagari depot manager Uttam Patil. He also pointed to other problems. “The road is narrow, and vehicles parked on the roadside often block the bus. We have informed the local gram panchayat to ensure no one is allowed to park vehicles along the road when the bus is expected along that route,” he said.Yet, for villagers, these explanations offer little comfort. With no buses, daily routines have turned into long, tiring journeys on foot. The strain is expected to worsen as schools reopen in the coming days.“Without cutting the tree, there is no permanent solution. Otherwise, govt should build an alternative road,” said Balvant Patil, the former sarpanch of Aini. He noted that an existing route toward Solankur is too narrow, but could be developed. “In the trial, the bus passed safely. We hope services resume regularly till a new road is built.”