Heavy vehicles descending in the Mumbai-Pune Bhor Ghat motorway could soon move down the slope slightly faster, considering an increase in existing speed limits, officials and transporters said.
There are negotiations to increase the speed limit for heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses from the current 40 km / h to 45-50 km / h on the descending slope of the PUNE-Mumbai arm, also known as Khandala Ghat. The decision is likely to be taken early, they said.
The current speed limit of 60 km / h for cars in the 10 km Ghat section is unlikely to change. On other sections of the first highway controlled by access, the speed limit is 100 km / h for smaller vehicles and 80 km / h for heavy vehicles.
The current limit in the GHAT part, located between Lonaval in the Pune district and Khalapur in the Raigad district, leads to frequent e-challan because it is difficult for heavy vehicles to slowly move down, slow down and cause accidents.
After tracking and discussions, the authorities gave a positive signal for the ascending speed limit of the speed limit, the transporters said.
According to transporters, especially bus owners, e-challany increased in the GHAT section after the introduction of the intelligent operating system (ITM) system, which includes several cameras with speed monitoring and other equipment, on 95 km road.
The vehicle is a fine of 2,000 GBP for the first speed failure and the amount increases for subsequent offenses.
Teams from Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Highway Police, Ministry of Transport and Carriers conducted a joint survey of the GHAT section last month to assess the ground reality.
Transporters and several officials called the current speed limit of 40 km / h for heavy vehicles on Bhor Ghat “unscientific”, “unrealistic” and “unfair”. Allowing these vehicles to move a little faster would save time, fuel, maintenance costs and helped avoid “unnecessary” e-challans, they said.
Harsh Kotak, bus operator and bus leader Malak Sangh, explained the practical aspect of the challenges facing drivers.
“In special equipment, vehicles can only reach 7-10 km / h, while it is 25-28 km / HV first gear and 45-47 km / h in the second gear. But if you stay in the first gear for too long, the vehicle passes and disrupts traffic. “
Kotak said that the authorities asked to “scientifically” set the speed limit at 50 km / h. “Approximately 30 percent of e-challans are issued by a heavy vehicle on this section 10 km Ghat, often at speed between 43 and 50 km / h,” he added.
KV Shetty, another bus operator, claimed that there were no proper warning signals that would alert the drivers in advance to slow down.
“Sudden braking often leads to accidents. The government calls it a highway, but expects vehicles to run at 40 km / h,” the bus operator said.
The Maharashtra Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar told PTI that they have received several complaints about speed limits from the transporters.
They called concerns valid because it is “practically difficult” for heavy vehicles to maintain such low speeds on a sharp slope down.
“MSRDC is the agency responsible for the GHAT decision, while the police will complete the speed limit,” Bhimanwar said, adding that his department has already written several letters to the police.
The next CEO of the Police (highway) Pravin Salunkhe could not be approached despite repeated attempts.
However, the MSRDC official stated that the police on the highway were expected to take a meeting on the highway to discuss the ascending speed limit.
Named after the former main Minister Yashwantrao Chavan was opened in 2002. According to official data, it recorded 191 accidents in 2024.
Published – June 22, 2025 08:55 IS
