114 killed in accidents on Pune e-way in 2018

MUMBAI: The number of fatalities on the 94.5-km Mumbai-pune expressway rose to 114 in 2018 in 359 cases from 105 in 2017 in 360 cases, according to data from the state highway traffic police.

This is despite the fact that to make the corridor a zero- fatality one by 2020, the state had in 2016 directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to introduce several measures such as the intelligent traffic management system which uses CCTVS to keep a tab on traffic violations. However, work on this is still underway.

Piyush Tewari, CEO of SaveLife Foundation, which is helping the government come up with measures to curb accidents on the expressway, said they have recommended usage of drones to monitor vehicles.

Vijay Patil, superintendent of highway traffic police said, “We have proposed to the government to use rumblers on road shoulders on the expressway. We are also planning measures to control speeding. We have already installed crash barriers to curb the fatalities.”

JAYPRAKASH S NAIDU NAVI MUMBAI: A 20-yearold man died on Saturday evening after he ran his bike into a trailer at Taloja MIDC.

He was not wearing a helmet when the accident took place, the police said.

According to the Taloja MIDC police, Nitesh Sawant, a resident of Ghod village, was crossing a junction in the area where a trailer was taking a right turn, around 9pm. “Sawant somehow rammed his bike into the trailer and came under its tyres. He suffered severe injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. He died there after sometime,” said an officer.

S Shendge, sub-inspector, said they have not found any witnesses. “It is not clear who was exactly at fault. Based on circumstantial evidences, we registered a case against the trailer driver under sections 304a and 279 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is yet to be arrested.”

Sawant’s body handed over to his family after a post-mortem at Panvel rural hospital.