31 July,2017 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Faisal Tandel
State highway traffic officials exhort the PWD department to repair the Malshej Ghat highway that is turning into a dangerous stretch due to plethora of problems
Highway traffic officials examining the dangerous potholes that need immediate repairs
The Malshej Ghat highway is a hotbed of dangerous driving that requires a special skill set to navigate the trifecta of potholes, landslides and low-hanging trees. As it is a popular weekend destination over the last few monsoons, the state highway traffic police is concerned that continued inaction of the authorities is equivalent of a mishap waiting to happen.
To that end, it has written two letters to the state PWD department informing it of the dangers that commuters are in the way of. "The complete stretch from Murbad to Malshej ghat has numerous potholes. As the stretch falls between two separate jurisdictions, we have complained about both to the PWD, but have received no response. On many occasions, we have filled up the potholes ourselves, as it leads to incessant traffic problems," said Rajesh Waghmare, assistant police inspector, Highway Traffic Police, Malshej.
Quality issues
To make matters worse, when the authorities deign to do some repairs, they use crushed stone powder, which can cause skidding. "Instead of bitumen, they use oil to repair the road, which can cause a surface to be slippery. Meanwhile, drivers also have to avoid branches that are lying on the roads. The risk of landslides is also very real," added an official.
Also read: Two, including driver, killed as milk tanker skids on Malshej Ghat Highway
Earlier this month, when it rained continuously, the authorities shut down the highway for two days as precaution.
Officials say
S Patil, deputy engineer of PWD, National Highway, who claims that his jurisdiction is the 60-km stretch between Murbad to Malshej, said, "Work on the stretch is underway and we are filling the potholes. We are trying out best." C Dhage, PWD deputy engineer, who handles the remaining stretch claimed the same.
Meanwhile, NHAI authorities claimed that as the highway is a forest area, they need the forest department's nod for removing loose boulders, which further delays work.
Past mishaps
On July 25, 2013, three boulders rolled down and crushed a passing tempo. Two people were killed and it took seven days to remove the boulders.
Rs 9.5 cr
Fund approved in 2014 for safety measures along a 9-km stretch of the highway
