Removing Roadblocks To Safety On Maharashtra Highways
Maharashtra, which contributes about 8% of deaths on national and state highways in the country annually, has issued directions to all local bodies to remove encroachments from the right of way on these arteries within two months. Dhabas, hotels, and commercial structures are to be removed, pursuant to the Supreme Court’s orders in a suo motu petition that followed ghastly highway crashes in…
Maharashtra, accounting for roughly 8% of traffic fatalities on national and state roads each year, has mandated local authorities to eradicate structures on the highway's right-of-way within two months. This directive, prompted by Supreme Court orders following devastating accidents in Rajasthan and Telangana that claimed nearly 40 lives, encompasses the removal of dhabas, hotels, and commercial establishments.
The Supreme Court's April directives, which this newspaper endorsed, advocated for numerous highway safety enhancements, including the establishment of a trackable system of police and transport personnel patrolling within 30 days. However, the implementation of these mandates remains crucial to bolstering public trust.
Despite removing encroachments, widespread administrative shortcomings persist in documenting accident incidents in Maharashtra. According to research, the National Crime Records Bureau's data for the state underestimates the actual numbers when compared to records from hospitals and Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services. Furthermore, this critical database lacks information on the severity of injuries and the causes of accidents, highlighting the importance of accurate reporting for targeted reforms.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also faced criticism for its sluggish performance. A court-ordered partial assessment of 693 km of highways revealed the removal of 361 illegal access points that contribute to accidents, as drivers often fail to anticipate their presence. The NHAI has issued 1,403 notices concerning encroachments, illegal commercial access points, and median cuts, which could have been avoided with an effective patrolling system.
High tolls on national highways warrant the urgent upgrade of the entire system to ensure maximum reliability.
National highways necessitate heavy tolls, and all relevant agencies—NHAI, toll firms, state highways authorities, police, and medical departments—must collaborate to elevate safety standards. The aftermath of the Phalodi accident offers a glimmer of hope that judicial scrutiny will intensify, focusing on government agencies' performance in safeguarding safety and life while addressing accountability.
Nevertheless, highway safety has historically received lip service from successive governments, despite the Sundar Committee's recommendations from two decades ago.
A technically proficient national road safety board remains an unfulfilled suggestion to tackle India's road safety crisis, which claims over 1.8 lakh lives annually and results in numerous more crippling injuries. Incremental measures are insufficient to significantly improve road safety in India, where accident fatalities continue to be alarmingly high.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
