To avoid confusion,police unit for E-way on cards

In case of an accident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway,one of the first challenges the personnel at the Expressway control room face is identifying the jurisdiction among several police stations and outposts.

In case of an accident on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway,one of the first challenges the personnel at the Expressway control room face is identifying the jurisdiction among several police stations and outposts. Now,in a bid to resolve this issue,a proposal to set up a dedicated police unit for the E-way has been been put up before the state government.

At present,the 94-km Expressway falls in district jurisdictions of Pune rural and Raigad,which is further divided into 11 police stations and two outposts. For highway patrolling,too,it is divided into Pune and Mumbai jurisdictions or teams of the State Highway Patrol (SHP). Latif Sayyad,in-charge of the Expressway control room,In case of serious accidents,though medical help arrives as soon possible,confusion over police station jurisdiction remains. This delays police action.

In the wake of recent accidents,including the one in which 27 died,a committee comprising SHP and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials prepared the proposal for setting up a dedicated Expressway police and sent it to the state government unit in the first week of July.

Dilip Bhujbal,superintendent of the Pune Unit of SHP,said,The current role of the highway patrol and police is same as it used to be on the old Pune-Mumbai highway. On Expressway,the speed limit is higher but people drive much faster than the limit. We,therefore,require a dedicated police unit for the E-way.

Bhujbal added,The dedicated police unit should also have jurisdiction on prevention,detection and prosecution of crimes on Expressway.

At present,Kalamboli,Panvel Rural,Panvel Town,Rasayani,Chowk,Khalapur,Khopoli,Lonavala Rural,Lonavala Town,Vadgaon Maval,Talegaon and Dehu Road police stations have jurisdiction over areas on Expressway. Bhujbal added,The sooner the proposal is approved,the better it will be. We will also talk to MLAs and MPs and make a presentation on the proposal.

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