Besides commuters, E-Way also risky place for IRB staffers

Following up with lsquopart fourrsquo of the EWay campaign triggered by the increasing number of fatal accidents that have claimed several lives in the recent past MiD DAY had discovered that while people believe that only motorists end up as victims of road accidents on the PuneMumbai Expressway it is only the half truth Highway Victim IRB guard Balu Shankar Bhanusagre left was left with a fractured leg after being hit by a speeding car while he was on duty After a yearrsquos hospitalisation he resumed work last month PicKrunal Gosavi Apart from the motorists falling prey to accidents on the 94km that connects the city to Mumbai Ideal Road Builder IRB personnel such as marshals security guards among others deployed on the highway to direct traffic in case of mishaps or technical glitches on the highway also end up as victims of the EWay Victimspeak Balu Shankar Bhanusagre an IRB guard was left with a fractured leg and back after being hit by a speeding car while he was on duty After an entire year on the road to recovery Bhanusagre resumed work last month He said that IRB personnel witness at least three accidents a day on the PuneMumbai Expressway and some of them even end up as victims while executing their duties ldquoA rod has been implanted in my leg and it took me almost a year to recover from my injuries Around three or four guards are injured every month while performing their duties Vehicles travel at speeds ranging between 120 and 140 kmph We have to stand on the EWay and guide vehicles if any lane is closed due to an accident or technical problemrdquo Bhanusagre said According to several IRB guards tyre bursts while speeding which results in loss of control over the vehicle by its drivers is the prime reason for majority of the mishaps on the EWay ldquoDuring the night when traffic is at its peak vehicles donrsquot follow lane discipline Vehicles colliding into the rear of vehicles ahead of them is common in the nightrdquo said Krushna Bhanusagre Balursquos brother who is also an IRB guard According to the IRB officials villagers in the vicinity of the EWay add to the problems by violating traffic rules They said that there are seven authorised gaps in the medians for emergency movement of ambulances maintenance staff and official vehicles ldquoApart from this there are many illegal breaches created by villagers residing on the fringes of the Expressway Despite the fact that there are several pedestrian crossings and underpasses for safe movement they do it to cross the road quickly Once detected we immediately repair these breaches but new ones pop up every now and then People should understand the need to refrain from making such breaches as they can lead to mishapsrdquo said an IRB official Another official said that most of these breaches are made by locals to facilitate easy movement of twowheelers ldquoThere are several illegal breaches created by villagers and twowheelers enter the EWay and cross over to the other side We donrsquot have the authority to take action If we try to stop them they respond with abusesrdquo Continuous process IRB officials claim that maintenance of highways is a constant and an ongoing process All items of road infrastructure and safety provided on the Expressway are as per specifications laid down in the Indian Road Congress The repair of concrete structures damaged in accidents takes a little time In such cases the locations are marked and other safety items are put up for the safety of commutersu00a0