The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court questioned the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) over the absence of adequate wayside amenities on the Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Expressway. The court’s scrutiny came after the MSRDC submitted an affidavit claiming that tenders were being invited for the development of such amenities. A Division Bench comprising Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Abhay Mantri heard the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Anil Wadpalliwar. The PIL raised the issue of the lack of basic facilities for motorists on the expressway, which has seen surge in traffic since its launch. The judges expressed dissatisfaction over the MSRDC’s slow pace in addressing these critical infrastructure issues and ordered the petitioner to personally inspect the expressway and review the current status of passenger amenities.

 

 

In a related affidavit, the Highway Police informed the court about the efforts being made to ensure safety along the expressway. On average, around 25,000 vehicles commute daily on the expressway. A dedicated team of 12 police officers, along with 74 personnel, is deployed to maintain order. These officers work in two shifts to ensure round-the-clock surveillance. The Highway Police also revealed that cars are randomly checked to assess quality of the tyres using machines designed to measure thickness of tyres. The checks are part of broader efforts to curb accidents. The Police also reported that quick medical interventions have saved 597 lives following accidents on the expressway.