The Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway will get three additional patrol vehicles, three cranes and one ambulance from September 15, after a series of crashes highlighted the danger of broken-down or damaged vehicles remaining on the carriageway.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will deploy the additional fleet along the 181.5-km toll road at closer intervals to identify stranded vehicles, clear traffic and move damaged vehicles away from the highway. The route runs from Dandumalkapur in Yadadri district to Nandigama in Andhra Pradesh.
The decision followed the August 26 crash near Dorakunta on the outskirts of Kodad, in which six people were killed. According to the report, a private travel bus allegedly travelling at high speed collided with a truck carrying iron pillars. The truck had stopped on the highway after hitting a divider.
The incident brought renewed attention to the risks created when heavy vehicles remain on the carriageway after a breakdown or crash. Suryapet collector Tejas Nandalal Pawar said the existing deployment was inadequate to monitor the entire stretch effectively and suggested increasing the number of patrol vehicles.
NHAI project director Srinivasa Rao said the three additional patrol vehicles and three cranes were being deployed, while one additional ambulance had also been sanctioned. He said the number of ambulances could be increased further depending on requirements.
The highway currently has three toll plazas, at Pantangi and Korlapahad in Telangana and Chillakallu in Andhra Pradesh. They are located roughly 60 km apart, and each toll plaza has a patrol vehicle, crane and ambulance. With one patrol vehicle covering up to 60 km in one direction, and as much as 120 km when both directions are considered, reaching a breakdown or accident site quickly can be difficult.
The additional patrol vehicles are intended to allow more frequent monitoring and faster intervention when vehicles are found stranded. Each team will include a driver, marshal and helper. On receiving an alert through the highway emergency number 1033, the team will travel to the location, assist with traffic management and take necessary action.
The cranes will be used to remove accident-damaged or broken-down vehicles from the carriageway. The additional ambulance will have a driver and an emergency medical technician, and will provide immediate assistance to injured people before transporting them to the nearest hospital for further treatment.
The expanded deployment is scheduled to become operational on September 15. NHAI’s stated objective is to reduce the time for which vehicles involved in breakdowns or accidents remain on the highway and limit the risk of secondary crashes.
