Premium

Navale bridge accident: Authorities to set up check post, emergency service centre on accident prone stretch

A high level meeting of officials of Pune Municipal Corporation, PMRDA, and NHAI as well as city police officers was convened by municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.

On Thursday, eight people were killed when a container vehicle lost control and hit many vehicles on the route. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

As fatal accidents near Navale bridge on Mumbai-Bangalore bypass continue to occur despite precautionary and safety measures, the authorities on Friday decided to take more steps including setting up a check post, reducing speed restrictions to 40 km per hour, creating a dedicated lane for heavy vehicles at the accident prone stretch as well as creating awareness among drivers on taking care while driving.

A high level meeting of officials of Pune Municipal Corporation, PMRDA, and NHAI as well as city police officers was convened by municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.

Measures that will be implemented on the stretch include setting up a check post at the accident prone stretch to check speeding, checking loads of heavy vehicles at the toll post at Khed Shivapur, screening drivers to avoid drinking and driving, providing a dedicated lane for heavy vehicles and restricting their speed limit to a maximum of 40 km per hour, barricading existing roads to a narrow carriage width to slow traffic down, action on parked vehicles on service roads, putting up more signages and using speed guns along the route.

Thick rumblers will also be installed on roads and demarcating land for widening service roads will be taken up within a week, said Ram.

The PMC will complete acquiring land to widen service roads in six months and the ongoing work will be completed in six months. A new bridge on Mutha river will be opened by March 2026 by NHAI and an emergency help centre will be set up near Navale bridge.

As a permanent solution, the construction of a six lane elevated road from Jambhulwadi to Tathawade as well as a new underpass will be taken up on the accident prone stretch.

There have been many fatal accidents on the stretch near Navale bridge over the last few years. On Thursday, eight people were killed when a container vehicle lost control and hit many vehicles on the route.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
pune