New tunnel to make deadly Khambataki Ghat a safer spot

Against the backdrop of recent accident at Khambataki ghat on the Pune-Satara highway where a private bus fell down a gorge killing ten people, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is now working on short as well as long term plan to make the ghats safer for commuters. 
As a part of long term solution, the corporation has already sent a proposal for construction of a new tunnel in the ghat section to to the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH). Earlier this month, a private bus travelling from Kanyakumari towards Mumbai fell into a gorge killing ten persons, while 39 passengers suffered injuries. Following the accident, the highway police officials claimed that the S turn after the tunnel, where the bus driver lost control, is a dangerous spot in the ghat section. The highway police also had written to the MSRDC officials, suggesting to implement appropriate safety measures at the deadly S turn.
When contacted, Rajesh Kumar Kaundal, project director project implementation unit of NHAI said, “There are two solutions that we are working on for safer travelling in the ghat section. The long term solution is to construct a new tunnel. The cost of constructing this tunnel would be around Rs350 crore, for which we have already sent a proposal to the ministry. The procedure of getting approval will speed up after general elections.” 
Meanwhile, Kaundal added that the NHAI is working on a short-term solution that involves speed limit restrictions. “The maximum speed limit in the ghats, especially near tunnel should be 50 kmph. We are working on enforcing restrictions by placing sign boards,” he said.
anurag.bende@dnaindia.net