Pune-Mumbai Expressway: Plan To Install CCTV Cameras At Every 4 Kms On Hold; MSRDC Says ‘Currently Not Feasible’
Pune, January 7, 2021: Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has scrapped the plan of installing CCTV cameras at every 4 km on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, citing the reason to be ‘not feasible’. The intention of installing several CCTV cameras within short distances was to curb the unruly traffic on the expressway and also penalise drivers flouting the traffic rules.
The corporation has reduced the speed limit on highways to reduce the number of accidents caused by increasing speeds on expressways– the speed limit has been changed to 100 kmph from 120 kmph since November 18 last year. The speed limit set for eight-passenger capacity vehicles including the driver is 100 km per hour and passenger vehicles of more than nine capacity are 80 km per hour on the expressway. Drivers are required to drive at this speed limit and violators will be severely punished.
Besides this, speed guns and CCTV cameras are available in some places to monitor vehicles’ speed. However, insufficient manpower and equipment have restricted taking action against violators, making it difficult to monitor every vehicle. Nonetheless, deployed employees too, have limitations to conduct actions. Against this backdrop, the Highway Traffic Management System (HTMS) is being implemented on the expressway. The corporation’s proposal was approved last year. The proposal also included the installment of CCTV cameras at every 4 km on the 94 km stretch of the highway. The scheme was aimed at cracking down on drivers violating traffic discipline.
In this regard, Superintendent Engineer of MSRDC Pune Division AP Nagargoje stated that after considering all aspects of the plan and reviewing its plausible implementation, it has been understood that it won’t be feasible. As a result, the scheme was postponed at the ministry level. Eight interceptor vehicles have been deployed to take action against motorists violating traffic rules on the highway. These vehicles are replaced daily and action against violators is taken through this process.
A tender was also issued by the corporation for the installation of CCTV cameras. However, the concerned company demanded Rs 290 for each vehicle being processed. The corporation was to get Rs 100 from the proceeds of the action. Therefore, if the company’s demand was to be met, MSRDC would have to pay extra Rs 190. Hence, it has been decided to postpone the scheme at the ministry level. Also, other companies have not yet shown interest in implementing the scheme.
