The Ahmednagar bypass-Manmad national highway, a 75km stretch in Ahmednagar district, has witnessed an alarming increase in the number of road fatalities over the past two years. According to police as well as motorists, potholes are a major cause of accidents on this road.
Sunil Vishwasrao, the 52-year-old president of the traders association in Rahuri, said, “The condition of the road has been pathetic for decades now. A large number of people have died in road accidents on this stretch in the past few decades. I have the names of 165 employees of the Rahuri sugar factory who have died on this road. The list includes the names of my parents as well.”In 2022, 61 people had lost their lives on the highway, and this number rose to 108 in 2023. Disturbingly, in just the first seven months of 2024, the death toll has already touched 92, fast approaching the total fatality count of the previous year.
In 2015, people from various walks of life formed an action committee for the Ahmednagar-Manmad road. However, despite submitting numerous memorandums to the officers concerned and staging several agitations, the situation has not improved.
Sandeep Mhaske, a trader from Ahmednagar, said govt has spent hundreds of crores of rupees on road maintenance over the years, but the situation has never improved. He also pointed out politicians visiting Ahmednagar, Shirdi, and Shani Shingnapur have been using this road for years, but no one has taken the initiative to ensure proper construction of the road.
The Ahmednagar-Manmad road handles a significant volume of traffic throughout the year as it connects various regions such as Daund, Baramati, Solapur and places Karnataka. It also connects to Indore via Manmad and Dhule, as well as Kalyan. Many people working in private establishments in Ahmednagar, students, elderly people, and patients visiting hospitals, rely on this road regularly.
Residents of Ahmednagar expressed their concern about the impact of the poor road condition on the devotees visiting Shani Shingnapur, a major religious spot that attracts visitors from across the country. They believe the troubles faced by these devotees while travelling on the Ahmednagar-Manmad road must be leaving a negative impression of Ahmednagar, its administration, and elected representatives.Senior officers of the Ahmednagar police said highway repair works from Puntamba Phata to Vilad Bypass are underway. They expect the work to be completed soon, which should help reduce the number of road accidents and resulting fatalities.
