The Maharashtra Transport Department has taken strict measures to address the issue of lane-cutting and obstruction by truckers, buses, and heavy vehicles on the Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway and Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The move comes after numerous complaints about larger vehicles impeding the smooth flow of smaller and faster vehicles, leading to accidents and visibility issues.
In response to these concerns, Transport Commissioner V. L. Bhimanwar issued an order warning that heavy vehicles flouting traffic rules could face blacklisting and related consequences. To enforce this order, teams of highway police personnel have been stationed at exit and entry points on the two expressways, and 10 interceptor vehicles are strategically positioned to identify and apprehend offenders breaking traffic regulations.
The primary focus of these measures will initially be on the 701-kilometer-long Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg and the 95-kilometer-long Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The effectiveness of the blacklisting policy will be evaluated, and if successful, it may be extended to other national and state highways across Maharashtra.
A recent incident highlighted the need for these actions as on April 27, a truck’s brake failure resulted in a collision involving 11 vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, leaving several individuals injured. Such accidents often occur when smaller cars, jeeps, or SUVs are forced to overtake larger vehicles from the wrong side or maneuver between two heavy vehicles, leading to avoidable collisions.
Since the inauguration, the Nagpur-Mumbai expressway has seen several accidents, which are attributed to various reasons, including driver hypnosis.