Wardha police divide Samruddhi Mahamarg into 11 beats to curb robbery and theft on 61 km stretch

Wardha police have prepared a special action plan to stop robberies and thefts targeting travellers on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Under it, the expressway will be divided into small beats, with police keeping watch on each section.

The Samruddhi Mahamarg runs for 61 km through Wardha district. It passes through the limits of four police stations: Sindi Railway, Selu, Sawangi and Pulgaon. Eleven beats of 5 to 6 km each have been created along the full 61 km.

Under the new arrangement, one policeman has been assigned to each beat. An officer of sub-inspector rank has also been deployed to supervise them. This will keep every section of the expressway under police watch. Police will also keep an eye on suspicious activity on the expressway.

The step follows a special circular from the Director General of Police. The circular directs that necessary measures be put in place across the state so that serious crimes such as forcible theft and robbery targeting travellers do not occur on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. In keeping with this, Wardha district police have made the security of the expressway a priority.

The Additional Superintendent of Police, Wardha, has been appointed nodal officer for the entire exercise. The Sub-Divisional Police Officer and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Pulgaon, have been given the responsibility of assistant nodal officers.

Police have appealed to people to inform them if a suspicious person is seen moving about in villages along the expressway or on the expressway itself. Police will keep a particular watch on the movements of suspicious people loitering on the expressway without reason.

Additional Superintendent of Police Sadashiv Waghmare has appealed to citizens to remain alert. He said that if people come across a suspicious person, they should immediately inform the emergency number 112 or the nearest police station.

Travellers have welcomed the arrangement, and it is hoped that it will rein in criminals. How far the 11-beat action plan will curb robberies and thefts on the expressway remains to be seen.