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Maharashtra Dy CM Orders Emergency Traffic Plan After Mumbai-Pune Expressway Gas Leak

A gas tanker accident carrying highly flammable propylene caused a major safety threat and traffic chaos on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed authorities to create a special emergency traffic management plan to prevent future incidents. Technical experts from major oil companies were called in to safely control the dangerous leak, which took nearly 20 hours. Shinde also reviewed the nearing-completion Missing Link project, which will provide an alternative emergency route once finished.

Key Points: Mumbai-Pune Expressway Gas Leak: Shinde Orders Emergency Traffic Plan

  • Gas tanker carrying propylene overturns
  • Major traffic diverted for 20+ hours
  • Technical teams from oil firms control leak
  • Toll collection suspended during crisis
  • Missing Link project reviewed for future alternatives
2 min read

Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde orders emergency traffic plan after gas tanker accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

Maharashtra Dy CM Eknath Shinde orders emergency traffic plan after a propylene tanker accident causes major disruption on Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

"The chemical was extremely flammable, and even a small spark could have caused a major explosion. - Girish Mahajan"

Mumbai, February 4

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday took serious note of the massive traffic disruption on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway at Bhorghat following a gas tanker accident and directed authorities to draw up a special emergency traffic management plan to prevent such incidents in the future.

According to an official press release, Shinde instructed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the police to enhance preparedness and response times.

The accident occurred after a tanker carrying highly flammable propylene overturned, resulting in a major leak and a serious safety threat. With no immediate alternative, traffic on the expressway was diverted to the old Mumbai-Pune highway, resulting in long delays.

Shinde said MSRDC and police personnel worked continuously for nearly 20 hours to control the situation, acknowledging the hardship and mental distress faced by stranded commuters.

MSRDC sought assistance from the National Disaster Response Force, but given the high risk, technical experts from Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, and Reliance Industries were called in. These teams eventually succeeded in controlling the gas leak.

During the disruption, MSRDC arranged drinking water and biscuits for commuters, while all officials remained deployed on the ground. Shinde also directed that toll collection on the expressway be suspended until traffic returned to normal.

Providing details of the operation, Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan said the tanker overturned around 5 pm on Tuesday. "The chemical was extremely flammable, and even a small spark could have caused a major explosion. That's why removal was difficult," he said, adding that the BPCL team had the required technical expertise to extract the chemical safely. He said traffic movement had partially resumed on one side.

Shinde also reviewed the status of the Mumbai-Pune Missing Link project, which is nearing completion, and directed officials to expedite the work. He said the new stretch would not only reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune but also serve as an alternative route during emergencies.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
I was stuck in that jam for 7 hours! Absolute nightmare. 😫 While the water and biscuits were a small gesture, the real issue is the lack of a proper emergency corridor. Appreciate the teams working for 20 hours, but the system failed us. The old highway can't handle expressway traffic.
A
Aman W
Good move by Shinde sahab. Calling experts from BPCL, HPCL was smart thinking. Safety should always come first, even if it causes delays. Suspending toll collection was the right thing to do – at least they acknowledged the inconvenience. Hope the new emergency plan includes better coordination with these technical teams.
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Sarah B
As someone who travels this route frequently for work, this is a wake-up call. The expressway is a vital economic link. We need world-class disaster management protocols, not just reactive measures. The fact that it took so long to get the right experts on site shows a gap in preparedness.
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Vikram M
The real heroes are the MSRDC and police personnel who worked non-stop for 20 hours. Salute to them! 🙏 But the authorities must also audit the safety standards for these tankers. Why did it overturn? Was it over-speeding, poor maintenance? Prevention is better than cure.
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Karthik V
While the government's response is being praised, let's be respectfully critical. This "serious note" is taken *after* a major crisis. Where was the proactive emergency plan? This highway has seen multiple accidents. The plan should have been in place already. Hope this order leads to real, implemented change.

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