Pune: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Calls Meeting To Address Highway Accidents In Maharashtra
Pune, 11th August 2023: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, is set to convene a crucial meeting in Pune on Saturday to discuss preventive measures aimed at reducing the frequency of accidents on various state highways and expressways, including the Samriddhi Highway. The meeting will be attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, alongside other senior officials.
During his visit to Pune, Union Minister Gadkari will also inaugurate the new flyover at NDA (Chandni) Chowk on Saturday, August 12. This significant event will be accompanied by the important meeting focused on road safety measures. The meeting venue is set at Pashan, and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Public Works Department have been directed to present viable strategies for consideration during the session.
The impetus for this meeting stems from a tragic accident that occurred in July on the Nagpur-Mumbai Samriddhi highway near Sindkhedaraja in Buldhana, claiming the lives of 25 individuals. The forensic report for this incident has recently been released, revealing startling details. Armed with these findings, officials from the MSRDC have disclosed that the meeting’s agenda will involve presenting measures to address such issues and enhance road safety.
According to the report, the fatal accident took place in the first lane of the Samriddhi highway, designated for overtaking vehicles. The bus involved was traveling at a high speed when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The initial impact occurred when the front wheel collided with a highway signboard. Subsequently, the bus overturned and collided with a divider approximately ten feet away. During the collision, the rear tyre of the bus ruptured, causing the axle to separate and strike the diesel tank. Approximately 350 liters of diesel fuel spilled and dispersed on impact, igniting when it came into contact with the engine’s hot components. Tragically, the ensuing fire claimed the lives of 25 passengers.
The forthcoming meeting serves as a platform to deliberate on strategies to prevent similar accidents and enhance overall road safety on Maharashtra’s highways and expressways.
