HC urges installation of CCTVs on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government today to expedite installation of CCTVs on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and also ensure that heavy vehicles without proper indicators or signals are not allowed to ply.

A division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale directed the government and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to expedite the process of installing CCTVs to improve surveillance on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway which has witnessed several accidents.

"Expedite the proposal and get it (CCTV) installed. This will reduce the work load on police," Justice Khanwilkar said.

Advocate General Darius Khambata informed the court that an MSRDC proposal seeking allocation of Rs 37 crore to install CCTVs will be submitted to the government soon.

"The plan is to install fewer cameras with higher range to cover the entire stretch of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The CCTVs would be attached to the main control room at Lonavala for monitoring," Khambata said.

He added that the plan was on the lines of CCTVs installed on the new Yamuna Expressway connecting Delhi and Agra.

It was brought to the court's notice that a majority of accidents on the expressway involved heavy vehicles plying without proper indicators.

The court then asked the government to appoint a dedicated officer at toll booths to check the indicators of vehicles passing by.

"In case the vehicle does not have proper indicators, do not let it ply on the expressway," the court said, while hearing a public interest ligitation seeking that ambulances and quick medical aid should be provided on the Expressway.