Pune’s arterial highway linking the city to Kolhapur is set to undergo a significant safety upgrade, with the state transport administration approving the deployment of an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) along the 241-kilometre corridor. The initiative aims to reduce speeding, lane violations, and high-risk driving behaviour amid rising concerns over recurrent accidents along the route. The move reflects a broader shift in Maharashtra towards technology-enabled mobility aimed at creating safer and more sustainable inter-city transport.
According to officials, a work order has already been issued to begin installation of high-resolution cameras, speed radars, and automated monitoring infrastructure across the highway. The system is modelled on the ITMS installed on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, which is widely credited with improving driver compliance and helping reduce accident frequency. The new setup will track vehicle movement in real time and automatically flag violations ranging from overspeeding to driving on the wrong side of the road. The Pune–Kolhapur stretch has drawn increased attention after a series of recent incidents, including a major crash near Navale Bridge that resulted in multiple fatalities. Just days earlier, a speeding container truck lost control and collided with several vehicles in another worrying episode. Officials acknowledge that despite earlier attempts to strengthen on-ground vigilance, the corridor still lacks the consistent monitoring and enforcement capacity seen on the expressway.
A transport department official noted that earlier plans had directed teams from regional transport offices in Pune, Satara, and Kolhapur to conduct round-the-clock patrolling and provide safety guidance to long-distance drivers. “Monitoring has continued, but the scale of the highway and the volume of traffic demand a more sophisticated approach,” the official said. The proposed ITMS is expected to bridge this gap by introducing an automated layer of oversight that does not rely solely on human presence. Industry representatives argue that enforcement will need to be strengthened to ensure meaningful impact. One logistics association spokesperson said that while technology can help identify violators, authorities must also maintain physical presence at toll plazas and other high-risk stretches to deter dangerous driving. The spokesperson added that timely intervention could prevent severe accidents, particularly in areas where drivers frequently exceed speed limits or negotiate sharp curves at unsafe speeds.
The success of the expressway ITMS offers encouraging evidence. Data shared by officials indicates that accident rates on the Pune–Mumbai corridor fell by nearly 30% in the first nine months of the year compared with the previous period, coinciding with the rollout of automated monitoring and increased issuance of e-challans. Although payment compliance remains a challenge, the system has played a meaningful role in reducing risky behaviour. As Pune and its surrounding districts continue to expand, safer regional mobility is emerging as a critical element of inclusive and sustainable development. The ITMS rollout on the Pune–Kolhapur highway represents a step towards a safer, more climate-resilient transport ecosystem, reducing accident-related disruptions while promoting responsible driving across one of western Maharashtra’s busiest routes.
Pune Set To Install New Highway Monitoring System To Reduce Traffic Violations
