Maharashtra State Development Corporation (MSRDC), in association with STUP (which looks after engineering of the Expressway), will conduct a per km landmark inventory survey along the 94-km-long Mumb
Maharashtra State Development Corporation (MSRDC), in association with STUP (which looks after engineering of the Expressway), will conduct a per km landmark inventory survey along the 94-km-long Mumbai-Pune Expressway to identify the number of missing signboards on the Expressway.
MSRDC officials said that post the joint survey, lapses will be identified and if operations and maintenance contractor, Mhaiskar Infrastructure Private Limited (MIPL), fails to rectify them within a stipulated time, the company’s contract will be cancelled after issuing intimation about the same. This newspaper had reported on July 4 that MIPL was issued preliminary notice to overcome shortcomings in maintenance of the Expressway else MSRDC would take proper legal action, including termination of contract as per provisions of the contract.
Commenting on the per km landmark inventory survey, a senior MSRDC official said, “The survey will be carried out to identify where signboards are missing, whether existing signboards are appropriate and installed at the right place. The survey will be conducted in keeping with guidelines of the Indian Roads Congress which categorically states requirements of signboards on Expressways across the country.”
The Expressway has been in the news after the June 5 accident that claimed 17 lives and injured 43 others when a private bus rammed into two cars before falling into a deep ditch. Following the mishap, an inspection was carried out by PWD minister Eknath Shinde and transport minister Diwakar Raote along with state highway police officials. Thereafter chief minister Devendra Fadnavis called a meeting on June 7 where he directed working on an action plan to enhance road safety on the Expressway.
The MSRDC has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NGO, Save Life Foundation, and Mahindra Rise to make the Expressway a zero fatality corridor over the next four years.
