3 min readMumbaiJul 11, 2023 02:23 PM IST
First published on: Jul 4, 2023 at 12:04 AM IST
In a recent development, the Samruddhi Mahamarg entry points are being equipped with public address system, said Sanjay Yadav, Joint Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
“The new system will appeal to drivers using the highway not to over-speed, drive cautiously, not to drive in the wrong lane etc. Since the highway is straight and does not have curves, it can make one sleep. So precautions have to be taken,” added the official.
Public address announcement systems are being installed following frequent accident cases on the newly opened Samruddhi Mahamarg. There are nearly 60 entry-exit points on Samruddhi Mahamarg.
Yadav said that such public address announcement systems are already on Mumbai – Pune Expressway. However, since the highway hypnosis is more on Samruddhi Mahamarg, announcements will be done with specific messages about feeling sleepiness by the driver.
Besides, the MSRDC is also putting rumblers every 25 km on Samruddhi Mahamarg. Vehicles passing through rumbler strips will have noisy drive, making them alert, said Yadav.
Also, MSRDC is putting reflective tapes, colourful flags on Samruddhi Mahamarg. Also, 33lakh saplings are being planted along medians and avenues areas along Samruddhi, added the official.
The 701-km long Samruddhi Mahamarg, of which 600 km stretch from Nagpur to Bharvir in Igatpuri, is opened to traffic whereas work is going on for the remaining 101 km stretch, which is expected to be completed by this year.
Since the highway sees several accidents, once again the issue of safety was raised. The latest incident was when 26 people died after a private AC sleeper bus travelling from Nagpur to Pune on Saturday caught fire after it hit a steel pole and road divider. However, MSRDC stated that in all accidents that have been reported, the design of Samruddhi Mahamarg is not blamed.
Meanwhile, the police is finding out the Call Detail Record (CDR) of the private AC sleeper bus driver who lost control of the vehicle that caused the major accident. The police are finding out whether the driver was speaking on the phone at the time of the accident.
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