Strict action to be proposed if Satara highway works drag on

PUNE: People can expect a smooth ride on Pune-Satara highway by mid-February next year.
District collector Naval Kishore Ram on Sunday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and contractor Reliance Infra to complete all the repairs and pending works on the stretch by self-specified deadlines (see box), the last being mid-February.
“NHAI officials and Reliance Infra representatives gave plans and timelines for completion of the work at a meeting on Sunday.They have given final commitments for completion of the works between December 19 and mid-February. If they fail to complete the works within the deadlines, I will recommend the government to take some strict action against the authorities. Toll closure would be part of the action,” Ram said, adding that a committee comprising a sub-divisional officer, a sub-divisional police officer and citizens had been formed to look into the matter.
The Sunday meeting was held at the district collectorate and was attended by the collector, NHAI and Reliance Infra officials, local MLAs Bhimrao Tapkir and Sangram Thopte, taluka representatives from Bhor and other areas, besides citizens.
Frequent travellers complained that there had been no visible improvement on the stretch despite assurances since mid-November. “Citizens had also reached out to Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari. He had assured completion of the pending works and repairs. However, nothing has happened so far,” Satara resident Pavanjit Mane, who works in Pune, said.
For now, Satara MLA Shivendra Raje Bhosale is set to lead a toll closure protest at the Anewadi toll plaza along the highway at 11am on Wednesday over the authorities’ failure to complete the road works as per the previous assurance. Bhosale said the condition along the highway was “pitiable” and people were putting their lives at risk while travelling on the pothole-ridden stretch.
He also questioned toll collection along the route if the authorities could not maintain the highway.
(With inputs from Atul Deshpande, Satara)