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Time of India
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Safety upgrade for 15 black spots on NH-48, accidents dip
Pune: As many as 15 high-risk crash locations along Old Mumbai-Pune section of National Highway 48 were transformed under Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative as part of pre-monsoon safety intervention. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials said that identification and correction of these black spots was expected to drastically reduce accidents along the corridor. Once known for frequent and often fatal crashes, the highway is now being repositioned as a model of evidence-led, multi-agency road safety transformation. "We are not just building roads, we are building safer journeys," said Anilkumar Gaikwad, vice-chairman and managing director, MSRDC. The joint effort was led by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), SaveLIFE Foundation, Maharashtra Highway Police, and Highways Infrastructure Trust, officials told TOI on Tuesday. "This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration, data, and engineering in saving lives on our highways," Gaikwad said. Through data-driven interventions and collaborative implementation of engineering solutions, we are committed to reducing fatalities and making our roads safer for every user," he told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 그랜저 신차장기렌트, 2년 타보고 결정하세요 카테일러 더 알아보기 Undo This initiative reflects our ongoing dedication to building not just better roads but safer ones, he added. The project focused on engineering upgrades at 15 crash-prone locations — from Ladkat Petrol Pump near Somatane Toll Plaza to stretches near Mahanagar Gas — addressing key safety risks such as poor visibility, unsafe intersections, high-speed merging, and pedestrian vulnerability. Key intervention points included Wadgaon Phata, Kamshet Ghat section, Shilatane Phata, and Khalapur junction, among others. These sites were treated with a mix of median gap closures, improved signage, speed-calming measures, and pedestrian safety enhancements, such as designated crossing zones and barricading. In addition to civil works, the project deployed speed detection cameras and automatic violation monitoring system to crack down on reckless driving. Maharashtra Highway Police officials reported noticeable improvements in driver behaviour following installation of enforcement technologies and upgraded signage. "The presence of automated systems has not only deterred overspeeding, but enabled real-time tracking of violations," said an official, adding that enforcement became significantly more efficient. Crucially, the project also prioritised institutionalisation of these interventions through capacity-building and establishment of strong operational partnerships between different govt agencies. This approach not only enabled immediate improvements but also laid the groundwork for sustaining and scaling the ZFC model across other high-fatality corridors in India, stated SaveLIFE Foundation. In the old Mumbai Pune highway section of NH48, there was 67% reduction in fatalities from 269 in 2018 to 88 in 2024. The fatality numbers for 2025 are currently being verified. On the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, there was a reduction in fatalities in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. There were 24 fatalities in 2024 as against 6 in 2025. "Buoyed by these results, MSRDC plans to extend ZFC initiative to other high-fatality corridors across Maharashtra," said officials. "We are establishing a scalable, data-driven blueprint for road safety that can be replicated across India." The Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative on the Old Mumbai Pune Highway (NH48), implemented by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and Highway Police Maharashtra and SaveLIFE Foundation in partnership with Highways Infrastructure Trust, has demonstrated remarkable success in enhancing road safety outcomes. Initial comparative analysis of crash data revealed a 51% reduction in road crash fatalities between January and March 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting the efficacy of SaveLIFE Foundation's evidence-driven interventions.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt MoU with Mercedes Benz India for road safety
Mercedes-Benz India, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government and SaveLife Foundation, has launched a road safety project on the Samruddhi Highway MUMBAI: It is certainly a welcome development that Mercedes-Benz India is collaborating with the Maharashtra government on a major road safety project focused on the Samruddhi Highway through its CSR initiative, which is proving to be a model at the national level. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his belief that its successful implementation has paved the way for the model to be implemented on other high-risk roads in Maharashtra. Welcoming the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Mercedes-Benz India through SaveLife Foundation as a partnership on the road safety project on Samruddhi Highway, the Chief Minister said that approximately 10 lakh vehicles travel on this highway every day. In that regard, road safety on this highway is of utmost importance. Therefore, it is a matter of joy that Mercedes-Benz India, a leader in the automotive industry and safety, wants to take the initiative and contribute significantly to this effort. Samruddhi Highway is an ambitious project of the Maharashtra government and is an expressway connecting Maharashtra and serving as a lifeline for commerce, tourism, and daily travel for thousands of people. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Her body cannot endure this level of pain; please help her. Donate For Health Learn More Undo The work on this highway connecting ten districts has been completed at a fast pace and has provided a very useful facility for fast travel in a short time. The entire work on the 701 km Samruddhi Highway has been completed. The first phase from Nagpur to Shirdi (520 km) was opened for traffic on 11 December 2022, and the second phase from Shirdi to Bharveer (80 km) was opened for traffic on 26 May 2023. The third phase from Bharveer to Igatpuri (25 km) was opened for traffic on 4 March 2024, and the remaining 76 km from Igatpuri to Amne (Tal. Bhiwandi, Dist. Thane) is planned to be opened for traffic soon. Mercedes-Benz India, as a responsible corporate citizen, committed to its values of safety, in collaboration with SaveLife Foundation (SLF) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), has launched the road safety initiative " Zero Death Highway on Samruddhi Highway" (ZFC) in March 2024. The initiative will be implemented until 2026. This is a major project being implemented on the 701 km long Mumbai–Nagpur highway, in which measures based on the "four Es of road safety" – Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Care and Education – are being implemented. This has resulted in a 29 percent reduction in accidental deaths (151 deaths in 2023, 107 in 2024). Similarly, this initiative has identified critical fatality zones (HFZs), and 39 percent of deaths have occurred in just 17 percent of the highway length (till December 2024). For safe travel, continuous safety audits, measures and emergency service improvements are being implemented through multi-agency coordination, and a key component is coordination and partnership, in which cooperation is being taken through seven consultation meetings with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Police, Health Department.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
State govt, Mercedes-Benz India tie up for road safety project
The Maharashtra government has partnered with Mercedes-Benz India and the NGO SaveLIFE Foundation to implement a zero fatality corridor (ZFC) on the Samruddhi Mahamarg — the 701-km-long Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway. Welcoming the initiative, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the project has the potential to become a national model. 'Over 10 lakh vehicles use this expressway daily. Given the volume, road safety is of utmost importance. Mercedes-Benz India, a leader in automotive safety, has come forward to play a key role in this mission, and that is a very positive sign,' he said, addressing the MoU signing event between Mercedes-Benz India and Maharashtra government through Savelife foundation in Mumbai. The ZFC project, launched in March this year, will operate till 2026 and seeks to bring down accident-related deaths on the expressway through a mix of engineering fixes, enforcement measures, emergency response systems and awareness campaigns. Among the engineering solutions being implemented are improved signage, speed limit indicators, and 'go slow' markings at accident-prone points. Speed detection cameras and Variable Speed Sign Boards (VASS) have also been installed at key locations. The expressway is now equipped with the VIDES system, which flags safety violations such as failure to wear seatbelts and lane indiscipline. More than 70 police and enforcement personnel have received specialised training under the project. Additionally, coordination meetings between various departments — including the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the Highway Police, and the Health Department — are being held regularly to ensure smooth execution. 'This kind of multi-agency cooperation, backed by global expertise and local leadership, is crucial. It's not just about one road — this is a model we intend to replicate across the state,' Fadnavis said.
