Pune: Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will intensify monitoring of repair work on 95km Pune-Mumbai Expressway and 701km Samruddhi Mahamarg, with mandatory barricading and signages while carrying out maintenance on high-speed stretches.The decision was taken at a review meeting on Wednesday, where officials resolved to impose tougher penalties on contractors for lapses. “Contractors are bound by agreements to follow Indian Road Congress guidelines and MoRTH norms while carrying out repairs. Proper barricading, repeated signages, and vigilant supervision will now be ensured,” an MSRDC official said.The move follows an incident near Daulatabad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar earlier this week, where videos shot by motorists showed sharp objects embedded in a freshly asphalted patch. The clips went viral after at least three cars punctured tyres.Police initially identified the objects as nails. MSRDC later clarified they were aluminium nozzles used for epoxy grouting, not nails as feared, but admitted that the contractor failed to take adequate safety precautions, particularly with traffic diversion. A fine is being imposed. “Highway stretches are repaired through grouting by barricading only limited portions without affecting traffic flow. Contractors are required to comply with safety measures, and comprehensive vigilance will now be reinforced. Continuous maintenance work has to be carried out, which makes increased vigilance necessary,” the official added.A senior MSRDC official said that pressure grouting is used to strengthen the base, with material injected through machine-drilled holes to keep the panels stable.MSRDC manages both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway — India’s first access-controlled highway — and the Samruddhi Mahamarg, a six-lane greenfield corridor connecting Nagpur with Mumbai. Samruddhi Mahamarg, expandable to eight lanes, is designed for speeds of 120kmph and passes through 10 districts, 26 talukas, and 392 villages. It has emerged as a key logistics backbone, carrying heavy cargo and passenger traffic across the state.Officials said that given the scale of traffic and high speeds, ensuring safety during maintenance is a top priority.BoxMSRDC waiting for notification for additional land for Ring Road Land acquisition for Pune’s 167km Ring Road project has stalled, with MSRDC awaiting a notification for additional land needed at key interchanges. The Ring Road, divided into eastern and western phases, will pass through 83 villages and has been declared a state highway. Nearly 90% of land acquisition is complete in the west and about 80% in the east. However, MSRDC officials said work on interchanges and related infrastructure cannot move forward until the notification is issued. “Unless MSRDC issues the notification, the land cannot be acquired,” said a district administration official, adding that the proposal has been pending for 18 months. Land in Haveli, Purandar, Maval, Mulshi, Khed, and Bhor talukas is yet to be acquired under Section 15(2) of the Maharashtra Highways Act, 1955.Villages identified for acquisition are Urse Parandwadi, Vadgaon, Sudhavadi (Maval), Pawarwadi (Purandar), Ghotawade (Mulshi), Khopi (Bhor), and parts of Khed. Additional acquisition is also required in Kasaramboli (Mulshi), Khopi and Shivre (Bhor), and Garade, Dive, Chambli, Hiware, Sonori, and Bhivari (Purandar).
