Plane with 48 on board crashes in Pakistan; all feared killed Soon, more lanes on e-way to reach Pune faster

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight with 48 people on board crashed near the garrison town of Abbottabad on Wednesday while flying to the national capital, the Civil Aviation Authority said.

Well-known singer-turnedevangelist Junaid Jamshed and members of his family were among the passengers of the illfated flight PK661, PIA officials and state-run media said. Bodies of the plane crash victims are brought to a mortuary in a hospital at Abbottabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Commuters gather on the tracks at Titwala to protest against the suspension of services between Kalyan and Kasara due to a technical glitch.

Your travel between Mumbai and Pune is likely to be smoother, faster and without any jams on the expressway. Reason: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) floated bids for the construction of additional lanes and tunnels to decongest the ghat section of the expressway.

There will be two elevated roads in the valley section and two tunnels between Khalapur and Sinhgad Institute near Kusgaon. The plan aims to reduce travel time between the two cities by 30 to 45 minutes.

At present, traffic from the expressway and the old highway converge on the six-lane stretch between Khopoli and Khandala, causing traffic congestion. “Our plan is to connect the section after Khalapur toll plaza and Sinhgad institute through tunnels and viaducts. Wherever there is a valley section, we will have viaducts [elevated road] and wherever there is a mountain we will have a tunnel. With this, motorists will be able to bypass the ghat section, where there is traffic congestion on most occasions,” said Kiran Kurundkar, joint managing director, MSRDC.

According to MSRDC officials, the two four-lane tunnels will be 1.75km and 8.92km in length, while

RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY

AP PHOTO