Speed limit to rise for heavy vehicles on Mumbai-Pune Expressway's ghat stretch

Heavy vehicles descending the Bhor Ghat section of the MumbaiPune Expressway might soon move down the slope a bit faster with authorities considering an increase in the existing speed limits officials and transporters have said reported news agency PTIDeliberations are underway to raise the speed limit for heavy vehicles like trucks and buses from the current 40 kmph to 4550 kmph on the downward incline of the PuneMumbai arm also known as the Khandala Ghat A decision is likely to be taken soon they saidThe current speed limit of 60 kmph for cars in the 10km ghat section is unlikely to be changed On other stretches of the countrys first accesscontrolled expressway the speed limit is 100 kmph for smaller vehicles and 80 kmph for heavy vehicles reported PTIThe current limit on the ghat section located between Lonavala in Pune district and Khalapur in Raigad district results in frequent echallans as it is challenging for heavy vehicles to move slowly on a sharp downward incline slows down traffic and causes accidents they claimedAfter followups and discussions the authorities have given a positive signal for an upward revision of the speed limit transporters saidAccording to transporters particularly bus owners echallans have increased on the ghat section following the introduction of the Intelligent Traffic Management System ITMS which comprises several speedmonitoring cameras and other equipment on the 95km carriageway reported PTIA vehicle is fined Rs 2000 for the first speed violation and the amount increases for subsequent infractionsTeams from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation MSRDC highway police the state transport department and transporters conducted a joint survey of the ghat section last month to assess the ground realityThe transporters and a few officials called the current speed limit of 40 kmph for heavy vehicles on Bhor Ghat unscientific unrealistic and unfair Allowing these vehicles to move a bit faster would save time fuel maintenance costs and help avoid unnecessary echallans they said reported PTIHarsh Kotak a bus operator and leader of the Mumbai Bus Malak Sangh explained the practical aspect of the challenges faced by drivers reported PTIIn special gear vehicles can only reach speeds of 710 kmph while its 2528 kmph in first gear and 4547 kmph in the second gear But if you stay in first gear for too long the vehicle crawls and disrupts traffic In the second gear you either overshoot the speed limit or end up overheating the brake drum due to excessive braking he said reported PTIKotak said they have requested the authorities to scientifically set the speed limit at 50 kmph Around 30 per cent of the echallans are issued to heavy vehicles on this 10km ghat stretch often for speeds between 43 and 50 kmph he added reported PTIKV Shetty another bus operator claimed there are no proper warning signs to alert drivers in advance to slow down reported PTISudden braking often leads to accidents The government calls it an expressway but expects vehicles to run at 40 kmph said the bus operatorMaharashtra Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar told PTI that they have received several complaints from transporters concerning the speed limitsHe called the concerns valid as it is practically difficult for heavy vehicles to maintain such low speeds on the sharp downward slopeMSRDC is the agency responsible for decisions regarding the ghat section while the highway police will finalise the speed limit Bhimanwar said adding that his department has already written multiple letters to the highway police reported PTIAdditional Director General of Police Highway Pravin Salunkhe could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts reported PTIHowever an MSRDC official said the highway police were expected to convene a meeting to discuss the upward revision in the speed limitNamed after former chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan the expressway was opened to traffic in 2002 It saw 191 accidents in 2024 according to official figuresWith inputs from PTI