Palghar Road Safety Committee Orders New Crash Barriers and Six Foot Over Bridges
The Palghar District Administration, led by District Collector and Committee Chairperson Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar, has initiated a comprehensive road safety drive across Palghar District, including the Vasai-Virar area, to reduce highway accidents and improve pedestrian infrastructure. During a review meeting of the District Road Safety Committee, officials directed multiple agencies to implement time-bound measures, including closing unauthorized median gaps and deploying emergency services.
To address accidents caused by unauthorized median gaps on major highways, the committee directed authorities to install permanent Metal Beam Crash Barriers and New Jersey Crash Barriers at vulnerable locations instead of relying on temporary arrangements. In addition to the 10 completed Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) in the region, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved six new FOBs at accident-prone spots, including Talasari, the Nilgiri Hotel area, Amboli, Khaniwade, Bapane, and Sasunavghar.
To leverage the "Golden Hour" for accident victims, six ambulances—four Basic Life Support (BLS) and two Advanced Life Support (ALS) units—have been stationed at key highway points. These locations include the Talasari Police Check Post, Charoti Toll Plaza, Durves Police Check Post, Khaniwade Toll Plaza, Chinchoti Naka, and Sasunavghar/Ghodbunder. Four patrolling vehicles have also been deployed at 30-kilometre intervals, with emergency agencies instructed to maintain a response time of under five minutes.
The committee also reviewed safety measures in the Mendhwan Ghat section, where temporary safety interventions like rumble strip markings, street lights, and chevron boards have been installed. A proposal to acquire 6,672 square metres of land for road realignment in this section has been submitted to the NHAI headquarters.
Furthermore, joint enforcement drives by the police, Regional Transport Office (RTO), and municipal authorities will target illegal dumping of construction debris and unauthorized parking. Dr. Jakhar directed all participating agencies, which included the Public Works Department, Zilla Parishad, and representatives of social organizations, to complete detailed micro-planning over the next three months to achieve a substantial reduction in highway accidents.
