Structural defects lead to accidents on Mumbai-Bangalore Highway
Traffic police have identified 20 accident-prone spots in the 34-km stretch of Mumbai-Bangalore highway in the Pune city limits. In this regard, a study was conducted by the traffic police department. A report has been sent to the National Highways Authorities of India, Pune, which looks after the highway.
Rising number of accidents
Over the past three years, around 110 fatal accidents have taken place in this part killing at least 111 people, among which 43 were pedestrians while around 50 were two-wheeler riders.
What the study reveals?
The study conducted to identify the reasons for these accidents has revealed that structural flaws on the road are responsible for the accidents. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had assigned the contract of work on the stretch to a contractor who further distributed the work among few subcontractors. Lack of coordination during the construction work have probably led to several structural flaws on the road, alleged Vishwas Pandhare, DCP (Traffic). He said that a copy of the findings of the study have been sent to the Authority as well as the contractor.
Common flaws exist in the spots detected
This study was headed by senior police inspector Sanjay Bhambure of traffic control branch. He alleged that there are some common defects in most of the accident-prone spots on the highway. For instance, there are breaks in the dividers with no signages mentioning it. Pedestrians and two wheeler riders use them to cross the highways and get hit by speeding vehicles coming from both the sides.
Also, at many spots, service road of the highway merges with the main highway with no clear separation leading to confusion among commuters. Protective railing, signage boards and flashlights are absent on the stretch at several places. Very few pedestrian subways and overbridges are present which is not sufficient as per the requirement. The trees grown on the divider are not of uniform height while some places have no trees at all.
Changes sought
Traffic police department has given a detailed list of structural changes that are essentially required in order to prevent accidents on the stretch. Sealing of the existing breaks on dividers, placing proper sign boards, installing protective railings, etc are some of the changes sought to be made in the stretch.
20 spots marked as accident-prone
The police has identified 20 spots on the stretch as accident-prone areas based on the number of deaths that occurred there in last three years. These spots include- Katraj New Tunnel (6), Katraj Viaduct (9), Ambegaon Budruk (6), Manaji Nagar Narhe (10), Warje Bridge (7), Dukkar Khind, Chandani Chowk (2), Bandal Estate (7), HEMRL break (6), Sus Sutarwadi connecting road (7), Balewadi Sports Complex (6), Mula Nadi (4), Wakad Bridge (3), Indira College (3), Sai Petrol Pump (4), Gokul Hotel (3) and Rajmudra Hotel (3).
