In a move aimed at strengthening safety and emergency response on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Highway Safety Patrol (HSP) are exploring land parcels along the Borghat stretch to set up a dedicated emergency help centre. Officials said the facility is intended to significantly cut response times and improve the handling of accidents involving heavy vehicles and hazardous cargo on the accident-prone ghat section.
The proposal follows a major disruption earlier this week, when a tanker carrying highly inflammable propylene gas overturned near the Adoshi tunnel in the Khandala area. The accident brought traffic on the busy expressway to a complete halt for nearly 32 hours. The Pune–Mumbai carriageway was finally reopened around 2 am on Thursday after authorities safely transferred the gas and removed the damaged tanker from the site.
Even after the reopening, traffic movement remained slow due to a truck breakdown near Malavli and several stranded vehicles near Kamshet. Police deployment and active traffic regulation helped stabilise conditions by Thursday morning.
Officials said the incident exposed serious gaps in emergency infrastructure along the Borghat stretch, where steep gradients and challenging terrain often delay the arrival of rescue teams and heavy equipment. The proposed emergency help centre is expected to be equipped with heavy-duty cranes, fire-fighting systems, specialised gas-handling tools, ambulances, patrol vehicles and a centralised control room. This control facility would coordinate responses between the HSP, MSRDC and other disaster management agencies during emergencies.
Superintendent of Police (Highway Traffic) Tanaji Chikhale said the planned centre would help reduce response times and ensure faster clearance of accidents, thereby preventing prolonged traffic snarls on the expressway.
An MSRDC official confirmed that the corporation is in the process of identifying suitable land for a permanent facility. “The objective is to ensure swift, safe handling of emergencies and minimise expressway closures,” the official added.
Authorities said further meetings will be held to finalise the location and infrastructure, with the recent tanker incident serving as a key reference point for strengthening emergency preparedness on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway.
Source: Hindustan Times
