Nagpur: In a positive development for commuters on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, plans are underway to introduce essential facilities such as hotels, restaurants, and food plazas along the Expressway. This initiative comes in response to the observed lack of passenger amenities, a factor believed to contribute to the frequency of accidents on the Samruddhi Mahamarg.
The absence of convenient facilities has forced drivers to cover long distances without breaks, leading to issues such as highway hypnosis and resultant errors like lane cutting and over-speeding. The rising number of road accidents has been a growing concern, prompting the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to seek a solution to this problem for several months.
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Previously, the MSRDC faced challenges in finding a suitable company to develop facilities in proximity to the highway. However, this hurdle has been successfully overcome. In the coming months, commuters passing through the expressway can expect to benefit from enhanced facilities, contributing to a safer and more comfortable travel experience.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has nominated a private company through bidding process to develop wayside amenities along Samruddhi Mahamarg corridor, a media report said. The company, Apco Infratech Pvt Ptd, was given the job to develop and operate wayside amenities by leasing out land parcels of 4-5 hectares along the Expressway for a period of 60 years. The report said that this company has also been given the liberty to sub-lease the land parcels to a third party.
Apco Infratech Pvt Ltd is also the same company which is carrying out the under construction Versova Bandra Sealink with Joint Venture Partner WeBuild, a project of MSRDC.
The MSRDC has taken Rs 275 crore excluding taxes as lease fees which will be paid in two instalments. In the first, it is required to pay nearly Rs 175 crore as the letter of Intent (LOI) has been issued. At the time when the agreement is signed, which will take another month’s time, the remaining payment will be made, the report said, adding that the company needs to spend Rs 8-10 crore each for the development of wayside amenities at 16 locations at Samruddhi Mahamarg, as mandated.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg was divided into 16 civil packages. Developing the wayside amenities will be done on the same lines, the report said.
Meanwhile, the MSRDC will open an additional 25 kms of expressway for traffic by February. The 701-km long Samruddhi Mahamarg, linking Nagpur to Mumbai, of which 600 kms expressway links Nagpur to Bharvir in Igatpuri, is currently open for traffic. This stretch was inaugurated in two phases. The first phase of 520 km, between Nagpur and Shirdi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022, and the second phase, between Shirdi and Bharvir, was inaugurated in May 2023 by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Although the expressway had been opened to traffic, MSRDC received a lot of criticism over the lack of wayside amenities at the time the highway was developed. The criticism came in the wake of a spate of accidents reported on the new expressway, wherein one of the reasons for these occurrences was highway hypnosis. Following this, MSRDC immediately made a temporary provision for refreshments, toilet facilities and mechanics at nearby fuel filling stations.
The work on the remaining 76-km stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg up to Amane in Thane district is slated to begin by July this year.
By addressing the dearth of amenities, this initiative aims to mitigate the factors contributing to accidents on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. With the introduction of hotels, restaurants, and food plazas, drivers will have the opportunity to take breaks, reducing the likelihood of highway hypnosis and related errors. This multifaceted approach is expected to have a positive impact on road safety and contribute to a decline in the number of accidents.
