MMRDA brings down speed limit on WEH and EEH from 60 to 40 kmph for the rains, but cops say monitoring over a lakh vehicles is impossibleu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

After receiving flak for a spate of accidents last monsoon due to skidding on the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and the Western Express Highway (WEH), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has brought down the speed limit of vehicles plying on these roads to 40 kmph from the earlier 60 kmph.

Those not following the prescribed speed limits will be taken to task, said MMRDA officials. However, traffic police have thrown their hands up and said that it is practically impossible to monitor the speed of every vehicle using the highways.

Said a senior traffic cop, requesting anonymity, "It is impossible for the traffic police to keep a tab on the speed of every vehicle plying on the WEH and EEH."u00a0
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Cut speed

Added S Nandargikar, chief engineer (roads), MMRDA, "We have brought down the speed limit for vehicles using the WEH and EEH to 40kmph from 60kmph. Motorists shouldn't exceed this limit to avoid accidents." More than a lakh vehicles ply on both these highways every day at a minimum speed of 80 kmph.u00a0u00a0

The 40 kmph speed limit was at first applicable only on the EEH, but later was imposed on the WEH as well.

Out of control

While the MMRDA feels that it has done its bit to bring down road mishaps this monsoon, traffic police feel that it is difficult to control the speeding vehicles on express highways. Sanjay Barve, joint traffic commissioner, said, "Newer measures are being undertaken by us this monsoon," but refused to comment on MMRDA's initiative of reducing the speed limit on highways.

Road to the rains
>>Slippery junctions on express highways will be modified by scraping roads
>>Rumblers, yellow thermo plastic strips and 'cat-eye' glowers will be installed to guide drivers at night
>>CCTV cameras will be installed on both express highways to maintain a constant watch
>>Traffic cops will use multi-radar C, a device which will enable them to measure the speed of vehicles even at night or when visibility is pooru00a0u00a0
>>Wireless police vans will be parked every few kilometres for attending to an emergency.
>>Electronic messaging boards will be put up along the highways. These will continuously ask motorists to control their speed

Mishaps in 2008
There were nearly 140 accidents in June 2008 over a period of five rainy days, on the 10-km stretch between Ghatkopar and Mulund checknaka on the EEH. The smoothness of the road was considered as the reason for the accidents. The worst affected strip was the one near Godrej Hospital that saw 35 accidents during the same period.