Police plan wall repairs, mobile towers on Samruddhi Mahamarg after robbers use gaps to enter

Concern over safety on the Samruddhi Mahamarg in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has grown. It has emerged that criminals are exploiting gaps in the expressway's safety walls and stretches without mobile network to target travellers. The reported method is to break through the wall, enter the expressway, rob people and flee the same way.

The police have now taken the initiative to fix these shortcomings. Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Atulkar said broken walls would be repaired, mobile towers would be installed where there is no network, and an SOS facility would be provided for emergency contact.

Atulkar visited the control room at the Savangi interchange on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. There he spoke to officials of MSRDC, the expressway security arrangement and toll administration. He also heard about the difficulties from officers and staff working on the ground.

Some stretches of the expressway have no mobile network, so people cannot contact anyone in an emergency. Efforts will be made to have mobile companies put up towers at such places. Efforts will also be made to start an SOS landline facility.

Broken safety walls at many places are giving criminals a way in and out. A letter will be written to the department concerned to get such spots repaired.

Another lapse has come to light at the toll plaza. Vehicles are being let through even when the vehicle number registered on the FASTag does not match the actual number of the vehicle. Officials concerned will be directed to correct this software fault.

There is no uniform protocol for contact between the different agencies. For this reason, the focus will also be on improving the wireless system.

To avoid disputes over police station jurisdiction after an incident on the expressway, Atulkar clarified that victims should first file a complaint at the nearest police station. The jurisdiction will then be determined and the case sent to the station concerned.

Atulkar appealed to travellers to call 112 immediately if they see an accident, robbery or suspicious activity on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, or if someone appears to be in trouble because their vehicle has run out of fuel. The nearest police vehicle will reach to help. He also asked travellers to keep sending their location to family members during the journey.