3 watchtowers in Khandala ghat soon to monitor eway

PUNE: The highway safety patrol (HSP) has decided to install three watchtowers at strategic locations in the Bor Ghat section of Khandala to monitor and help resolve traffic jams on Pune-Mumbai Expressway.
These watchtowers are expected to help police identify spots where congestion of vehicles is likely and respond to the situation. They would also facilitate help to vehicles stranded in jams.

The Khandala ghat section is prone to traffic jams, especially during peak hours, due to various factors like a steep upward gradient for vehicles bound from Mumbai to Pune, which slows down the speed of heavy vehicles. These then block the lanes and make overtaking difficult for smaller vehicles. Mumbai-bound vehicles too encounter such problems at certain patches on the approach to the ghat, HSP officials said.
With these factors in view, the HSP's additional director general of police Ravindra Singhal recently studied the ghat section and prepared the plan to install watchtowers.
Superintendent of police (HSP) Lata Phad told TOI: "The watchtowers will come up at Magic Point, Anda Point and Dattawadi between 42km and 44km stretch of the expressway. This is a stress section, especially during long weekends. We will allocate manpower to these watchtowers and hope that it resolves the traffic situation."
Authorities expect the move to be of immense help during weekends, when there is a rush of vehicles going either way between Pune and Mumbai and to Lonavala and Khandala hill stations. The impending monsoon season will also witness a large number of vehicles driving along the expressway to various tourist destinations.
"Our staffers stationed at these watchtowers will keep an eye on the traffic situation and will plan diversions and create traffic blocks for smooth movement of vehicles," Phad said. "They will also respond to any emergency situation. Our staffers do not have a proper shed and the watchtowers will provide cover to them, especially during rains."