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Recent state transport data revealed a contrasting trend in road fatalities across Maharashtra's two major expressways. Deaths on the Samruddhi Mahamarg rose 16%, increasing from 92 to 107 between January and September, while fatalities on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway dropped 29%, from 72 to 51. Officials attributed the difference to stricter monitoring, better infrastructure, and safety measures on the Mumbai-Pune route. In contrast, the Samruddhi stretch lacks advanced surveillance, has fewer amenities for heavy vehicles, and faces safety issues due to its design and driving conditions.
Fatalities on the Samruddhi Mahamarg have risen by 16% in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period last year, while the Mumbai-Pune Expressway recorded a 29% decline. As per recent transport department data, deaths on the Samruddhi route increased from 92 to 107, whereas those on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway fell from 72 to 51. Advertisement
Experts point to infrastructure and enforcement differences as the key reasons for this divergence. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is equipped with an Intelligent Traffic Management System featuring speed-monitoring cameras, while the Samruddhi corridor is yet to receive such systems. The Samruddhi route's full concrete surface also contributes to tyre bursts, unlike the Expressway's combination of concrete and bituminous surfacing, which is less harsh on tyres.
Transport expert Vivek Pai noted that the long, monotonous stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg often causes 'road hypnosis,' leading to driver fatigue and reduced alertness. To counter this, authorities had placed wildlife images along the road, but this has not significantly reduced incidents.
Safety issues are further heightened by the lack of dedicated parking and rest areas for heavy vehicles. On the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, two truck halts and five lay-bys are available, whereas on the Samruddhi route, truck drivers often park under overpasses or along the road edges, creating risks for other motorists, especially at night. According to SaveLIFE Foundation's Piyush Tewari, there have also been instances of stones or bricks being thrown at moving trucks from overpasses, sometimes leading to crashes when startled drivers lose control.
Additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said that surveillance and patrolling on the Samruddhi corridor will be strengthened, similar to the RTO interceptor units deployed along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. He added that despite the state's growing road network and increasing vehicle numbers, overall road fatalities have reduced, except for a 2% rise recorded in Mumbai. He credited this to the '3E strategy' focused on engineering, enforcement, and emergency response.
ADG (Traffic) Pravin Salunke mentioned that the police have raised several infrastructural concerns related to the Samruddhi highway with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). Improvements on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway-such as installing crash barriers on medians, improving lighting in ghat sections, and covering exposed concrete structures-have been instrumental in reducing crashes.
Experts have identified critical accident-prone zones on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, including the Jambargaon toll plaza in Aurangabad district, Kadwanchi village in Jalna, and Buldhana, where a major bus fire had earlier claimed 25 lives. Authorities are expected to replicate safety measures from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway to improve conditions on the Samruddhi corridor.
Source: PTI
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