Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has issued a directive for the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to provide comprehensive details regarding vehicle and tyre inspections conducted on Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg by September 9.
During the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Anil Wadpalliwar, Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri, scrutinised the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation’s (MSRDC’s) claims about vehicle safety checks on the expressway. On Wednesday, MSRDC faced sharp criticism from the court for allegedly providing misleading information about the vehicle and tire inspections on the expressway.
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16April 2025
The MSRDC had earlier assured the court that such inspections were being conducted at every entry point along the expressway. However, these claims were contested when the court noted discrepancies between MSRDC’s statements and the ground realities. Justice Sambre had expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “Our own experience travelling on the Samruddhi Expressway did not reveal any evidence of vehicle and tyre fitness checks at the entry points. We did not observe the safety measures that MSIDC had claimed to be in place.”
The High Court has ordered that the RTO submit a detailed report on the daily inspections conducted on the expressway. In a related development, the court also questioned the provision of facilities at rest stops operated by oil companies along the expressway. Justice Sambre orally inquired whether these oil companies are part of the litigation and stressed the necessity of passenger amenities in conjunction with toll collection.
In response to the court’s orders, the MSRDC has been directed to file an affidavit within a week addressing these concerns. The hearing also saw the presence of RTO officials, who were required to explain the inspection process and address the discrepancies noted by the court.
Adv Shreerang Bhandarkar represented the petitioner while GP Deven Chauhan for the State.
