A tragic accident near Navale Bridge that claimed eight lives on Friday has exposed shocking safety gaps on Pune's busy highway stretches, revealing that 93 people have died in 76 accidents over the past five years along the Katraj-Dehu Road bypass.
18 Years of Neglected Infrastructure
In a startling revelation, Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram confirmed that service roads along the critical highway stretch have remained undeveloped for 18 years, significantly contributing to the traffic chaos and accident-prone conditions. The bypass forms part of the crucial Pune-Bengaluru highway corridor.
"The service roads have not been made for 18 years. They should have been made," admitted Commissioner Ram, highlighting the administration's failure in providing basic infrastructure that could have potentially saved numerous lives.
Three-Pronged Safety Strategy Implemented
Following the recent tragedy that saw the highest single-incident fatalities on this stretch, multiple authorities including Pune Municipal Corporation, city traffic police, highway police and PMRDA have launched an emergency three-pronged approach to enhance safety along the dangerous four-kilometre section from New Katraj tunnel to Navale and Vadgaon bridges.
The comprehensive safety plan includes:
- Enhanced police regulation and presence along the highway with dedicated police posts
- Construction of high-thickness rumble strips every 500 metres by NHAI
- Priority construction of service roads on both sides of the highway within six months
Deputy Commissioner of Police Himmat Jadhav emphasized that developing service roads and underpasses to full capacity could reduce fatalities by 60-70% on this perilous stretch.
Deadly Geography and Traffic Patterns
The accident analysis reveals terrifying geographical challenges that make this highway section particularly dangerous. DCP Jadhav explained that the 180-meter elevation difference between Katraj tunnel and Navale bridge creates nightmare scenarios for heavy vehicles.
"When a heavy vehicle like a container leaves Katraj tunnel, the drivers are not able to apply brakes because of the heavy payload. The air brakes get heated up and detached. No matter how hard the driver tries, he cannot apply brakes," Jadhav stated, describing the mechanical failures that lead to catastrophic accidents.
Additionally, the sudden transition from high-speed sections in Kolhapur or Satara to Pune's chaotic traffic patterns creates confusion among drivers, often resulting in fatal collisions. The current mess around Navale bridge is exacerbated by the sudden merging of traffic from all directions.
Immediate Measures and Long-Term Solutions
Authorities have announced several immediate interventions, including reducing the speed limit to 30-40 kmph on this stretch and installing cameras along the entire corridor to monitor traffic violations. The new rumble strips will feature increased thickness of 5mm to 15mm to effectively slow down vehicles.
DCP Jadhav also proposed banning two-wheelers from the main highway, similar to restrictions on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, forcing them to use service roads exclusively once developed.
For long-term resolution, an elevated road project is underway, expected to be completed by NHAI within two and a half years. Meanwhile, PMC will engage a traffic engineering firm to create a comprehensive plan for the entire stretch from New Katraj tunnel to Mutha river bridge.
The coordinated effort between multiple agencies represents a crucial step toward addressing a problem that has claimed far too many lives due to decades of infrastructural neglect.
