New Delhi:
Chaos erupted on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Highway after more than 50 vehicles suffered punctures from an iron board that had fallen onto the road.
The incident took place around 10 PM on December 29 between the Malegaon and Vanoja toll plazas in Washim district, affecting both passenger cars and cargo trucks. The mishap led to a significant traffic jam, with commuters stranded on the highway for hours due to a lack of immediate assistance. Authorities are investigating whether the iron board fell by accident or was deliberately placed on the road. The highway police, along with local authorities, quickly arrived on the scene to clear the debris, but it took several hours to restore normal traffic flow.
In addition to the traffic congestion, the delay in providing help to the stranded vehicles raised concerns about the readiness of emergency response systems on the highway. With the Samruddhi Mahamarg being one of the key expressways in the state, such incidents prompt questions about safety protocols, especially during night hours when visibility is limited.
This incident raises concerns about the safety of the high-speed corridor, which has already been under scrutiny. Earlier this year, in June, a tragic collision between two cars on the Samruddhi Mahamarg near Kadwanchi village in Jalna district resulted in six fatalities and four injuries. The collision had led to further calls for better monitoring and regulation of traffic on this expressway, which is designed for high-speed travel but often lacks adequate safety measures.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, a partially operational six-lane expressway, spans 701 kilometers and connects Mumbai with Nagpur, Maharashtra’s third-largest city. This ambitious greenfield road project, which cost Rs 55,000 crore, is one of the longest expressways in India. Despite its advanced infrastructure, the highway has faced multiple challenges in terms of road safety and proper maintenance, especially with the rapid expansion of traffic over recent years. The state government has been under pressure to implement stricter safety regulations and ensure that such incidents do not undermine the highway’s potential as a vital transportation link.
