Stone pelting incidents on rise on Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway; to be patrolled by vehicles

For the past few days, stone pelting has been happening on the Nagpur to Shirdi highway in the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi highway. Due to this, the issue of safety of passengers has come up. Taking cognizance of this dreadful issue, the police security has been increased in the vicinity. For this, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has decided to purchase 15 vehicles for the Highway Safety Police for patrolling.

Increase in stone pelting incidents
The 520 km highway from Nagpur to Shirdi was put into service in December. Therefore, Nagpur to Shirdi distance can be covered in just five hours. But at the same time a series of accidents are taking place on this highway. Some have lost their lives in it as well. So, while the issue of passenger safety has come to the fore, now another concern has been added and that is of stone pelting. Stone pelting incidents have been happening between Sambhaji Nagar and Washim for the past few days. Although there were no casualties, several vehicles were damaged. Joint Managing Director of MSRDC Sanjay Yadav visited the spot on Monday and inspected it. Also on this occasion a meeting was held between MSRDC, Traffic Police, Highway Police.

Counselling of drivers and passengers
In that meeting, Yadav informed that many decisions were taken to prevent incidents of stone pelting including accidents. Traffic police and highway police are monitoring the speed of vehicles and discipline of vehicles on highways to prevent accidents. A counseling center has been started at every toll booth. Counseling of drivers and passengers is being done there. Now it has been decided to increase police patrolling on the highway to prevent incidents of stone pelting.

Purchase of 15 four wheelers soon
As the Highway Safety Police do not have vehicles for patrolling, it is becoming difficult to patrol. Yadav said that the MSRDC has therefore decided to purchase 15 four-wheelers for the Highway Safety Police. The process of purchase of these vehicles has been started. Yadav also said that since it will take some time for the vehicles to arrive, it has been decided to start patrolling the highway by taking some vehicles on lease.