Eway users fault traffic-rule violations

Pune: Regular users of the Pune-Mumbai expressway pick on several lacunae in the implementation of road safety measures and how authorities are lax in taking action against wrong-side driving, overspeeding, and heavy vehicles not following lane discipline.
A CCTV camera surveillance system on the expressway to check traffic violations, plugging unauthorized median breaks, ensuring a fool-proof system that vehicles do not jump the median and crash into other vehicles, and fixing compound walls so that animals or unauthorized vehicles do not stray on to the lanes, are steps needed to make it safe, many commuters said.
Kapil Gandhi, managing director of Sigma One Landmarks Pvt Ltd, said, "I have had many extreme experiences on the expressway. A jeep drove directly into us from the wrong side, villagers and cattle crossed the road, construction vehicles used makeshift exits to reach their sites faster and rocks fell close to my vehicle."
"I do not feel safe even for a second on the expressway as the MSRDC and IRB have utter disrespect for the safety of people who pay toll and are unaware of the dangers lurking ahead," he said.
Gandhi added that it is a common sight to see trucks and buses speeding in the third lane while cutting sharply across all other vehicles. Many a times light vehicles have to brake to allow access. Patrolling vehicles should stop heavy vehicles and fine them. He said it was not expensive to install cameras to check these drivers.
Civic activist Vivek Velankar, a regular commuter on the expressway, said there should be steady monitoring in the Bor ghat section. "There are frequent traffic jams in the ghat section. People have to wait for more than four hours in their vehicles. There should be 24-hour patrolling by the authorities. Vehicle drivers then speed because of the traffic jams. At accident-prone spots, there should be a system where rescue teams reach within 5 to 10 minutes. At many places, the fencing or compound wall have been broken. There are several unauthorized median breaks. One does not know which one is legal and which is illegal. The MSRDC and IRB should take action to plug unauthorized median breaks," Velankar added. IRB is collecting toll, but basic safety measures are lacking, he said.
Highway officials say most accidents happen due to overspeeding, wrong side driving, and heavy vehicles not following lane discipline. "We are taking action against all these violations. Accidents happen if there is wrong-side driving," said a senior highway official.
Velankar said the situation on the expressway is horrible. "Heavy vehicles are supposed to go from the slow lane. Very often, it is seen that these vehicles use the second or third lanes (fast lanes)," he said.
Toll activist Sanjay Shirodkar said ensuring safety, maintenance and security is the responsibility of MSRDC and IRB which collect toll.
"Hundreds of lives have been lost on the expressway from 2004 to 2016. In December 2012, Marathi film and theatre personalities Anand Abhyankar and Akshay Pendse lost their lives when a truck jumped the median and crashed into their car. The authorities are still lax about taking any action," he said.
MSRDC officials said CCTV surveillance has been proposed and will be scrutinized by the home department.
One side of the argument
** Heavy vehicles are driven by inexperienced or new drivers who do not know lane discipline
** Regular maintenance of expressway is required
** There is continuous patrolling by highway police officials and IRB officers
** Many heavy vehicles do not have tail lights or lamps leading to accidents
** Light vehicles such as cars drive at over 100 kmph when the speed limit is 80 kmph
** Continuous action against lane cutting, overspeeding and wrong-side driving
** Vehicle users should also be aware of traffic rules to prevent accidents
The other side
** Absence of a mindset and understanding on how to manage a world-class motorway
** Lack of will power to enforce the rules
** CCTV surveillance system must for lane discipline, overspeeding and other traffic violations
** Heavy trucks travelling on the second and third lanes resulting in most number of accidents and delays
** Heavy vehicles and buses should be randomly checked for functioning of lights, permits, and driver duty
** Wrong-side driving as villagers have cut the fencing at numerous points for shorter routes
** Drivers and commuters take a break to attend to nature's call or to freshen up if they are drowsy
** Tankers watering the plants on the median pose a possible threat to speeding vehicles
** There should be continuous monitoring by MSRDC and IRB on road safety measures