Fresh alignment for e-way to curb accidents

The alarming number of accidents on the Mumbai-Goa highway and Mumbai Pune Expressway has prompted the government to improve the two highways.

The Union surface transport ministry has said the government was working at various levels to improve the condition of the two highways so that accidents could be reduced.

Replying on the highway accident issue which was raised in Parliament, Union minister of state for road transport and highways Tushar Chudhary said the Mumbai-Pune Expressway came under the purview of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.

He added that they were working on a study for fresh alignment in the Bhor Ghat along with capacity augmentation of the Mumbai-Pune corridor.

The four-laning work on Mumbai-Goa highway (NH-17) on the 84-km Panvel-Indapur section has been undertaken by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

“The appointed date of the contract was February 9, 2011, and the scheduled date of completion had been fixed to 910 days from the appointed date,” he said.

“The feasibility study for four-laning of NH-17 from Indapur to Zarap section has been submitted by the Maharashtra Public Works Department and four-laning of Zarap-Patradevi section of NH-17(21.6 km) was under progress,” he added.