Mumbai-Pune e-way: 58.3% Drop in crash deaths since 2016

The expressway, notorious for recording 151 deaths in 2016, equivalent to roughly three deaths every 2 km compared to the 2016 national average of one death per 2 km, was considered one of the deadliest expressways in the country, as per the report.

Since the initiation of the "zero fatality corridor" initiative for the Mumbai-Pune Expressway (MPEW) in 2016, there has been a noticeable decline in road crash deaths, according to the project report. The project is a collaborative effort involving the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the Maharashtra Highway Police (HSP), the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Department, and the SaveLIFE Foundation.

The report stated that the initiative focused on comprehensive interventions covering the 5Es of Road Safety - Enactment, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Care, and Engagement.

The report revealed that, "as a result of these interventions, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway saw a 58.3% reduction in road crash deaths, decreasing from 151 fatalities in 2016 to 63 fatalities (from 56 fatal crashes) until 31st December 2023."

Expressing concern over every fatality on the expressway, MSRDC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Anil Kumar Gaikwad asserted, "We will leave no stone unturned to ensure we achieve zero deaths on this crucial link between Mumbai and Pune. The MSRDC has implemented various safety measures on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, leading to the elimination of various types of crashes like run-off crashes, object impact crashes, head-on crashes, and poor visibility-related crashes."