MSRDC’s 7-member panel to study Pune-Mumbai eway tanker mishap, submit report in 60 days

PUNE: The MSRDC vice-chairman and managing director, Anil Kumar Gaikwad, told TOI on Saturday that a seven-member committee had been constituted to study the Feb 3 propylene-laden tanker accident on Pune-Mumbai expressway and recommend remedial measures within 60 days.

The committee under C P Joshi, former president of Indian Road Congress, will study the accident near Adoshi tunnel in the Khandala ghat section in detail. A committee member said they would conduct a site visit and carry out a detailed technical study.

"The committee will provide a proper overview of such situations, and suggest short-term and long-term measures," Gaikwad said, adding that corrective steps would be implemented after the submission of the report.

S Mohite, former joint commissioner of traffic and IG, Konkan region, is the co-chairperson of the committee. Its other members are former joint commissioners of state transport Jitendra Patil and S Deshpande; safety and techno-legal expert Milind Kulkarni; president of SaveLIFE Foundation Piyush Tiwari; and Rahul Vasaikar, superintending engineer, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

The tanker accident triggered a massive traffic snarl, stretching up to 50km at its peak. The logjam lasted nearly 32 hours. Thousands of commuters were stranded.

Terming the accident rare, Gaikwad said, "The highway police will intensify the monitoring of vehicles ferrying highly inflammable material on the expressway. The police personnel monitoring check posts would be extra careful now."

He said the MSRDC's chief engineers reached out to companies concerned and instructed them to exercise greater caution.

Last week, the MSRDC reached out to refineries and transporters carrying highly inflammable material on the Mumbai–Pune expressway. Its officials said both consignors and consignees would be held equally accountable for safety lapses. Officials said such consignments must have proper escort services and backup plans in case of emergencies.

On demands for refund of the toll collected during the disruption, MSRDC officials said no decision was taken so far. Opposition members had criticised the toll collection when commuters were stranded for hours. Activists had demanded a refund.