PWD to file report over Mum-Goa road safety

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the state PWD to file a status report on safety measures such as availability of ambulances on the Mumbai-Goa highway. The court has also directed the authorities to ensure that the highway is pothole-free before the monsoon.

A division bench of Chief Justice N.H. Patil and Justice M.S. Karnik was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Owais Pechkar on the poor condition of NH66 from Raigad to Sindhudurg. According to the petitioner, the Mumbai-Goa national highway witnessed more than average traffic daily and the pothole-ridden roads posed a serious threat to people. He also claimed that more people travelled on the stretch during festivals.

The NHAI and state PWD Monday filed a status report regarding safety measures and informed the court that the number of ambulances had been increased on this stretch.

The stretch from Panvel to Indapur is maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and from Indapur to Sindhudurg by the state Public Works Department (PWD).

In the past too, the court has expressed concern over deaths in road accidents on this stretch of road where road widening work is going on.

The court has asked both the authorities to inform it as to when the road widening work will be completed.

The court has asked the authorities, present in the court, to take steps as soon as possible to make the roads pothole-free.