Maharashtra: Samruddhi Mahamarg turns risky as drivers stop for selfies

Motorists dangerously stop on the Samruddhi highway near the Igatpuri tunnel to take selfies. Pics/By Special Arrangement

While the Samruddhi Mahamarg has been opened for motorists, a section of the highway before the Igatpuri tunnel has turned into a selfie spot, with people dangerously stopping on the stretch to click pictures, greatly increasing the risk of accidents. Just before the 7.7-km Igatpuri tunnel, Maharashtra's longest road tunnel that bypasses the old Kasara Ghat section, motorists are seen halting their vehicles to pose for selfies. The situation is worsened by low visibility during monsoon fog, making the stretch even more accident-prone.

A commuter recently captured photos of vehicles parked on the Nashik-bound stretch of the highway before the tunnel, with motorists stepping out to take selfies. Motorist Rahul Dighe said, "On weekends and public holidays, many people take the Samruddhi Mahamarg to reach Igatpuri, a popular tourist spot. On Friday afternoon, I saw at least 10-15 vehicles parked before the Igatpuri tunnel, with people standing on the road to click selfies. Visibility was already low due to fog, and vehicles on this stretch come at very high speed. With cars parked and people standing on the road, the chances of accidents increase. I hope the highway traffic police take action against such behaviour."

The location is particularly dangerous as it has deep valleys on both sides, and people were seen clicking selfies dangerously close to the retaining wall. Stopping vehicles on the Samruddhi highway is strictly prohibited, and highway police have been penalising offenders. However, another commuter pointed out that he saw banners installed by MSRDC on the stretch asking motorists and truckers to park and visit small waterfalls nearby, creating mixed signals about stopping on the highway.

The Samruddhi Mahamarg is one of Maharashtra's most ambitious infrastructure projects, spanning 701 km and linking economic and agricultural hubs across the state. The highway passes through diverse landscapes, from dry deciduous forests near Nagpur, to grasslands in the central belt, and the Western Ghats near Mumbai.

Key facts
>> The Igatpuri-Kasara section houses India's widest tunnels (17.6 m).
>> The 7.78-km twin tunnels, constructed by Afcons, are the longest road tunnels in Maharashtra.
>> This section also records some of the highest rainfall in the state, further adding to risks.