Mumbai-Pune Expressway may require ‘visa’ for hazardous tankers after 30-hour traffic nightmare

Authorities had to cordon off a large stretch around the tanker while emergency teams attempted to contain the leak, forcing closure of one side of the carriageway and causing a massive traffic gridlock for over 30 hours. (PTI Photo)More than four months after a propylene gas tanker toppled on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and triggered a traffic jam lasting nearly two days, a seven-member expert committee constituted to study the accident has submitted its report to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), proposing stricter regulations, including a “visa-like” system for vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals on the corridor. The 250-page report shifts greater responsibility for safe transport of hazardous and toxic chemicals onto manufacturers, refiners and transporters, and recommends a regulatory approval system under which such vehicles would be allowed on the expressway only after complying with a series of safety conditions.“The committee has recommended manufacturers, refiners and transporters be mandated to fill out four to five forms, with details of origin, destination, a standard operating procedure (SOP) in case of a mishap, an escort vehicle with necessary equipment, etc,” an MSRDC official said. “These forms will then be submitted to the transport department, highway security police (HSP) and MSRDC, and if permission is given, only then will the vehicles be able to ply on the expressway,” the official added. Officials said the proposed system would function like a “visa” mechanism for vehicles carrying hazardous materials on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The recommendations come in the wake of the February 3 accident near the Adoshi Tunnel in the Khandala Ghat section, where a tanker carrying propylene gas overturned and began leaking, raising fears of an explosion. Authorities had to cordon off a large stretch around the tanker while emergency teams attempted to contain the leak, forcing closure of one side of the carriageway and causing a massive traffic gridlock for over 30 hours. The proposed regulations would apply to all hazardous and inflammable materials, including petrol, diesel, LPG and industrial chemicals.Story continues below this ad However, officials admitted that implementing and monitoring the recommendations could prove difficult given the scale of hazmat movement on the route. On average, nearly 250 vehicles carrying hazardous materials use the Mumbai-PuneExpressway every day. Officials said linking permissions to RFID systems was also being considered, though physically checking every vehicle carrying hazardous substances may not be feasible. The committee was headed by former Indian Roads Congress president and former PWD secretary C P Joshi. Other members included former Joint Commissioner of Traffic and former IG Konkan S Mohite, former transport commissioners Jitendra Patil and S Deshpande, Save Life Foundation president Piyush Tiwari, safety expert Milind Kulkarni and MSRDC superintending engineer Rahul Vasaikar. Officials said the report will now be submitted to the Maharashtra government for further deliberations.Story continues below this ad Meanwhile, a separate report examining similar accidents is also being prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Sabah Virani is a journalist with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, covering infrastructure, housing and urban issues. In the realms of technical fields, she brings out human stories and the pace of change ongoing in the city. Expertise Specialised Role: Tracking infrastructure in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Sabah’s reporting tracks progress on various projects. From bridges to metros, she mixes technical details with resourceful information. Core coverage areas: Sabah keeps a close eye on the activities of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its projects across the MMR, including the metros, ro