Pune: Public works minister Shivendrasinh Bhosale said on Friday that there are no engineering flaws at the Khed Shivapur toll plaza or the adjoining stretch of NH-48. He said accidents in the area are primarily the result of driver negligence and overspeeding.Replying to a question raised by Khadakwasla MLA Bhimrao (Anna) Tapkir in the state assembly, the minister noted that investigations into crashes on the accident-prone stretch found no flaws in its design or engineering.Tapkir had highlighted the fatal accident on May 8 near the toll plaza, where a gas tanker rammed a motorcycle from behind, killing a husband and wife instantly. The MLA sought to know if the location had become inherently dangerous and what measures were being taken to improve safety.Bhosale clarified that the police investigation into the May 8 crash concluded the tanker driver had acted rashly and at excessive speed. A case has been registered at Rajgad police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita and the Motor Vehicles Act. Additionally, the regional transport office (RTO) has inspected the vehicle as part of the probe.Addressing concerns over recurring accidents, the minister detailed the safety infrastructure on the NHAI-maintained stretch. He noted that the area is equipped with speed limit signboards, rumble strips, retro-reflective signage, crash barriers, road markings, and street lighting. The site also features CCTV surveillance, ambulance services, highway patrol vehicles, and an emergency response system, with traffic regulation managed in coordination with the highway police.Bhosale said the Pune-Satara section of NH-48 undergoes quarterly road safety audits by an independent third-party consultant. The recommendations from these audits are implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in coordination with local authorities.Regarding compensation for the family of the deceased couple, Bhosale said claims would be processed under the existing legal framework through the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) and the relevant insurance companies.
