Pune District Collector served legal notice for non-compliance of SC order demanding formation of road safety committees

The 10-member committee, headed by the District Collector, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chief Medical Officer of Health, among seven others, have to carry out periodic review of road accidents, monitor state road safety policy, publish road accident data every month, develop road safety plan for districts and hold meetings at least once every fortnight virtually and once every month physically.

The legal notice served to the District Collector highlighted the death of a 34-year-old beautician who was run over by a ready-mix concrete (RMC) truck in Pandavnagar in Hinjewadi-Maan road on October 10. Two months ago, a woman and her 13-year-old daughter were travelling on a two-wheeler in the same area when they were hit by a truck, killing the girl on the spot.

The notice also cited the current state of the girl’s family, stating her mother has repeatedly tried to harm herself, her 14-year -old brother is in trauma while the girl’s father is making rounds of police stations and government offices to seek justice for their daughter and compel authorities to take steps to make Hinjewadi roads safer.

The notice said the need for effective road safety measures in areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and the Hinjewadi region is of utmost urgency, given the heavy vehicular traffic, ongoing construction, and daily commuter movement. Road accidents are rising alarmingly across Pune city, largely due to inadequate enforcement of traffic norms, poor infrastructure, and unregulated movement of heavy vehicles. These recurring incidents highlight the urgent need for strict implementation and monitoring of road safety mechanisms through DRSC.

“My client states that to their knowledge and observation, no such meetings of Pune District Road Safety Committee have been held or publicly notified. The non-implementation of the Supreme Court directions amounts to grave violation of mandatory obligation under the Motor Vehicles Act and leading to continued public endangerment and loss of life on the roads of Pune,” said Sattyendra Muley, lawyer representing the bodies demanding safer roads in Hinjewadi.

Muley said the Collector should furnish the information and documents of all meetings held by the committee so far, failing which legal proceedings including contempt petition will be filed in the Supreme court.

Meanwhile, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) on Monday decided to ban entry of heavy vehicles, mainly construction material in Hinjewadi, Mahalunge and adjacent areas during specific time slots to be decided by the police.

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