A pioneering road-safety project has been unveiled on the 701 km Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway, where a zero-fatality corridor (ZFC) is being established through a partnership involving the Government of Maharashtra, Mercedes-Benz India, and the SaveLIFE Foundation. The programme, inaugurated in March and scheduled for operation until 2026, has been designed to lower accident-related deaths via a multifaceted approach combining engineering, enforcement, emergency response, and public education.
Enhanced signage has been installed, dynamic speed-limit indicators have been activated, and conspicuous “go slow” markings have been painted at known accident hotspots. Automated speed detection cameras and Variable Speed Sign Boards have been positioned at key stretches. A VIDES system has also been deployed to detect infractions such as seatbelt non-use and lane deviations.
More than seventy police and traffic enforcement officers have been provided with advanced training under the ZFC scheme. Regular coordination meetings have been held among the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Highway Police, Health Department, and other stakeholders to guarantee the seamless progression of the project.
At the memorandum-signing ceremony in Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was reported to have emphasized that over one million vehicles were traversing the expressway each day, underscoring the urgency of improved road safety. He was quoted as regarding Mercedes-Benz India’s involvement—given its reputation for automotive safety leadership—as a highly encouraging development. The collaboration was described as having the potential to serve as a national model, with its integrated strategy seen as readily transferable to other major corridors across the state.
This blueprint of multi-agency cooperation, backed by global expertise and local governance, is being positioned as a template for replication. Officials have indicated that the successes and insights garnered from this corridor will inform wider road-safety initiatives throughout Maharashtra, with the ultimate aim that no life will be lost to preventable accidents on this vital route.