It is heartening to learn that basic facilities, such as toilets, petrol pumps, and food malls, will soon be available along the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation to appoint consultants to set up these essential amenities along the route. This initiative should help address commuter criticism regarding the current lack of such facilities on the expressway.
These are not luxuries or frills but necessities that play a crucial role in preventing driver fatigue and accidents. Fadnavis rightly suggested that while constructing any road in the future, an ecosystem should be developed in the surrounding area. This is especially important as experts have flagged concerns about residential projects—particularly high-rise towers—emerging in certain localities without the necessary supporting infrastructure.
We need a holistic and comprehensive approach to infrastructure development, ensuring that adjunct facilities are built alongside the main project. When traveling to Western countries, one often sees highways and expressways equipped with toilets, basic stores, food kiosks, and sometimes even malls along the way. Unfortunately, this is not the case here.
Many stretches of our roads lack toilets, leading to discomfort, distress, and hesitancy among travelers who may consider canceling road trips altogether. People traveling with senior citizens, in particular, often think twice before using our roads when such amenities are missing.
This situation highlights the importance of setting deadlines not only for the construction of roads but also for the completion of all related support infrastructure. We need a visionary approach to shaping the future of road transport.
Beyond superior road quality, lighting, clear signage, visibility, and warning systems, it is imperative to provide restrooms, food facilities, and fuel stops along the route. Such an approach ensures that the project is complete, focusing not just on the vehicle or the road itself but also on the human factor—creating a safe and comfortable commuting experience for all.
Incorporating these elements will effectively “close the loop” for a safer, more convenient journey on our roads.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/road-transport-requires-visionary-approach-23597113
