The Maharashtra government has appealed to people from Konkan to use the Mumbai-Pune-Kolhapur highway as an alternative during the forthcoming Ganesh festival, since the pothole-ridden Goa national highway causes accidents.
Replying to a query raised by Shiv Sena legislator Deepak Sawant, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said that the Goa national highway is narrow and full of potholes.
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u00a0"Accidents on this highway have killed 31 people," he said. Rash driving is also one of the reasons for accidents, he said. "Due to a number of toll plazas, the Mumbai-Pune-Kolhapur highway is expensive, but the government will consider giving a concession in this regard," he said.
He said that over 25,000 vehicles had used the alternative route of Mumbai-Pune-Kolhapur highway, due to awareness campaigns.u00a0