Crackdown on Selfie-Stops: Safety First on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

The Maharashtra highway police have enforced a ban on stopping for selfies on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's new 'missing link' section. This section reduces travel time by up to 30 minutes and includes scenic structures. Any violation risks fines or criminal charges due to high-speed safety concerns.

The Maharashtra highway police have cracked down on motorists who pause to take selfies on the newly inaugurated 'missing link' of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, a move officials announced on Sunday.

This 13.3-km stretch, acclaimed as an 'engineering marvel', bypasses the Bhor Ghat section, significantly expediting travel between Mumbai and Pune. The route's picturesque tunnels and viaducts, part of the MSRDC project, have been a magnet for vehicular pauses, much to the dismay of traffic authorities.

The police emphasize that stopping on this high-speed stretch poses a severe risk, with vehicles typically clocking 100-120 kph. The proactive policing aims to preempt potential accidents by instating fines and possible criminal charges for violators. The results so far are promising, as accident-related calls have dramatically decreased since the route's opening on May 1 by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.