Maharashtra: CCTV delay on Samruddhi Mahamarg raises speeding fears

Samruddhi highway on April 25, before inauguration. PIC/SHADAB KHAN

Motorists using the Nashik-Mumbai stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg have raised concerns over rampant overspeeding, attributing it to the absence of CCTV surveillance under the proposed Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS). However, the installation of CCTV cameras is expected to take at least two years.

Transport experts suggest that until ITMS becomes operational, highway traffic police should curb overspeeding using patrol vehicles equipped with speed guns. Meanwhile, over 750 km of cable duct has been laid, and work on optical fibre and electrical cabling is ongoing.

Malhar Pawar, a commuter, told mid-day, "I observed many drivers exceeding speed limits, which increases the risk of accidents. The ITMS may take another two years to become functional, so the highway police should deploy speed-gun vehicles to catch violators in the meantime."

Expert speak

Jitendra Gupta, transport expert, said, "Until ITMS is fully operational on the Nagpur-Mumbai stretch, highway traffic police should use speed-gun mounted vehicles at random locations to penalise overspeeding drivers. Also, Indian vehicles should be equipped with speed governors, given our poor road and traffic discipline compared to Western countries."

Jagdeep Desai, architect, academician, and founder-chairman of the Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai, added, "While CCTV helps catch violators, it doesn't prevent speeding. Authorities should also focus on enforcing lane discipline among heavy vehicles like tankers, dumpers, and buses, which contribute to accidents through dangerous practices like left-side overtaking."

Official speak

Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar said, "The work on the ITMS is in progress. Until then, we, along with the highway traffic police department, are closely monitoring the Samruddhi Mahamarg stretch using speed gun-mounted interceptor vehicles, which are issuing challans to those overspeeding on the stretch."

A highway traffic police official said, "The highway traffic police has a vast jurisdiction. Therefore, on a rotational basis, six highway traffic police personnel, along with a senior official, patrol the Samruddhi Mahamarg stretch from Igatpuri to Amane. Using Point of Sale (POS) machines, challans are issued for traffic violations. We urge motorists to drive responsibly on the Samruddhi Mahamarg or any other highway or road to prevent accidents or mishaps."

ITMS features at a glance

>> Traffic Monitoring Camera System (TMCS) every 1 km with day/night vision
>> Automatic Traffic Count Classification (ATCC), Weather Monitoring System (WMS), and Video Incident Detection System (VIDS) for real-time monitoring
>> Variable Message Signs (VMS) and Vehicle Actuated Speed Displays (VASD) to alert commuters
>> Mobile app for real-time traffic updates
>> Emergency systems: Drone surveillance, vehicle tracking, emergency call booths (every 2 km), mobile radio systems, and vehicle/body-mounted cameras
>> Enforcement tools: Speed enforcement radars, Automatic Number Plate Readers (ANPR), Lane Enforcement Systems (LES), and Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) sensors every 10 km