Road transport requires visionary approach

(From left) Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Dy CM Ajit Pawar. PIC COURTESY/CMO

It is heartening to learn that basic facilities, such as toilets, petrol pumps, and food malls, will soon be available along the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to appoint consultants to set up these basic facilities along the route.

This should stem commuter criticism about the lack of these on the expressway. These are not luxuries or frills but necessities, one could term them, to prevent driver fatigue and accidents. Fadnavis rightly suggested that while constructing any road in the future, an "ecosystem" should be developed in the area.

This is important; experts have flagged residential projects, especially towers coming up in areas. Yet, where is the ecosystem to support these? We need a holistic, comprehensive look at any infrastructure, with adjunct facilities being built alongside it.

When one travels to the West, one sees highways/expressways with toilets, basic stores if not malls and food and drink kiosks on the way. This is not the case here. Swathes of roads have no toilets, leading to discomfort, distress, and doubt about whether one should travel or cancel one's road trips altogether. People travelling with senior citizens certainly think twice about using our roads if amenities are missing.

This shows the importance of putting a deadline not only on our projects but all the other support infrastructure that goes alongside. We need a visionary approach when it comes to making road transport of the future.

Besides the superior quality when it comes to the road itself, lighting, good signage, visibility, warnings, we need restrooms, food facilities and fuel stops en route. This makes it a complete project with a focus not just on the vehicle, or the road, but weaving in the human factor too, and closing the loop, so to speak, for a safe commute.