Highway authority to mend its ways

An official requesting anonymity said that after Balu Narayan Shinde (26) of Karve Nagar was killed while trying to dodge a big pothole on the highway, the authority has decided to conduct a survey on the major accident spots. "Work has been pending and all the damaged stretches will soon be repaired. It should start the next month," he said. When asked the reason behind the delay, the officer was equivocal.u00a0

u00a0Relatives of Shinde had recently demanded that the NHAI be made a co-accused in Shinde's death and it be investigated for negligence. The NH4 has seen more than 100 deaths in various accidents over the years and tops the list for the maximum number of fatalities followed by the Pune-Mumbai Expressway.

Officials have also indicated plans to undertake widening at certain points near Solapur District. Another official pointed out lack of manpower was hampering the repair work and maintenance. S Salunkhe, Pune Region Manager, NHAI, also remained unavailable for comment despite several attempts.u00a0

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