Mumbai-Pune Expressway: 2-hour Block on Part of Road on Tuesday, Traffic Snarls Likely | Here's Why

Mumbai-Pune Expressway is likely to see long traffic snarls on the Pune-bound lane on Tuesday as the stretch will be blocked for two hours for the erection of overhead gantries.

An official of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said the Pune-bound lane of the expressway will be shut for traffic from 12 pm to 2 pm for the erection of gantries at Amrutanjan Bridge and Khandala tunnel as part of the Highway Management System.

The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is the first-access controlled highway in the country.

The Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) project, led by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), is close to being finished on the Mumbai-Pune New Expressway.

Sanjay Yadav, the Joint Managing Director of MSRDC, earlier informed that the ITMS is slated to go live on October 15 this year.

The MSRDC seeks to lead the implementation of the state’s leading ITMS strategy with the Mumbai-Pune New Expressway. The initiative has the potential to take road management and traveller safety to unprecedented levels by utilising the capabilities of cutting-edge technology and intelligent surveillance.

An impressive array of 430 high-quality cameras, infused with the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI), has been meticulously positioned across 106 strategic junctures along the expressway. These AI-driven cameras are engineered to seamlessly detect over 17 different types of infractions, encompassing violations ranging from speeding to lane breaches and other hazardous driving behaviours.

A visual message system that will serve as a channel for delivering important information to travellers travelling on the expressway is prominently displayed inside the ITMS arsenal. This technology is positioned to equip travellers with critical insights by offering real-time updates on traffic conditions, road closures, and essential information like weather predictions.

Establishing a dynamic Command and Control Centre (CCC) in Kusgaon is essential to the project’s operation. With three shifts working around the clock, this nerve centre will coordinate operations with Regional Transport Officials (RTO) and highway police to ensure the smooth execution of ITMS activities. Instances of detected violations captured by the vigilant cameras will be seamlessly shared with these authorities, facilitating swift action, including the imposition of fines and traffic regulation.

(With PTI inputs)