November 18, 2025: Fatalities on Maharashtra’s two major expressways are moving in sharply opposite directions. Transport department data shows that deaths on the Samruddhi Mahamarg rose by 16% in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period in 2023, increasing from 92 to 107. In contrast, fatalities on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway fell by 29%, dropping from 72 to 51. Experts attribute the contrasting trends to differences in road engineering, traffic management systems, and safety infrastructure.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway has the advantage of an Intelligent Traffic Management System equipped with speed-monitoring cameras, a feature the Samruddhi corridor still lacks. Experts also highlight that the Samruddhi expressway’s full concrete surface is more prone to causing tyre bursts, unlike the Mumbai-Pune route, which uses a concrete-bituminous mix that is gentler on tyres. Transport expert Vivek Pai said the long, “monotonous stretch” of the Samruddhi highway often induces “road hypnosis,” leading to fatigue and reduced driver alertness. Wildlife imagery placed along the route to break monotony has not yielded a significant impact.
Safety challenges are compounded by inadequate parking and rest facilities for heavy vehicles. While the Mumbai-Pune Expressway offers two truck bays and five lay-bys, truckers on the Samruddhi stretch often resort to parking under overpasses or along road edges, increasing nighttime risks. SaveLIFE Foundation’s Piyush Tewari noted incidents of stones or bricks being thrown at trucks from overpasses, occasionally causing drivers to lose control.
Additional transport commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said surveillance and patrolling will be enhanced on the Samruddhi corridor, similar to RTO interceptor units active on the Mumbai-Pune route. He added that statewide road fatalities have generally fallen, except for a 2% increase in Mumbai, due to the state’s “3E strategy” of engineering, enforcement, and emergency response.
ADG (Traffic) Pravin Salunke said the police have flagged key infrastructural gaps to MSRDC. Improvements such as crash barriers, better lighting, and covered concrete structures have already helped reduce crashes on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Critical accident-prone zones on the Samruddhi Mahamarg—including Jambargaon toll plaza, Kadwanchi village, and Buldhana—are expected to receive similar interventions.
Source: Prop News Time
