The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved six new foot over bridges (FOBs) in Palghar district of Maharashtra as part of measures to reduce highway accidents. The decision followed a high-level meeting of the District Road Safety Committee that reviewed collision trends on the busy Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway through the district. The district Collector and committee chairperson Dr Indu Rani Jakhar led the review and instructed a set of safety interventions.

To prevent collisions from unauthorised median cuts authorities ordered immediate installation of permanent metal beam and New Jersey crash barriers at vulnerable locations. The NHAI approval covers FOBs at Talasari, Nilgiri Hotel area, Amboli, Khaniwade, Bapane and Sasunavghar and supplements 10 pedestrian bridges already completed in the district. The measures target accident hot spots where pedestrian crossings have posed recurring risks.

Emergency response capacity will be strengthened with deployment of six ambulances, including four Basic Life Support units and two Advanced Life Support units, placed at designated posts across the district such as Talasari and Khaniwade. The administration indicated that these placements are intended to improve chances of saving lives within the golden hour after accidents. In addition four highway patrolling vehicles will be deployed for every 30 km to provide rapid assistance and deter risky driving. The Collector directed that emergency agencies must respond within five minutes and that performance be tracked through regular GPS logs.

A proposal to acquire 6,672 square metres of land has been submitted to the NHAI for re-alignment of the accident-prone Mendhwan Ghat section, officials added. The combined measures of infrastructure, patrols and medical cover form part of a district strategy to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the highway. The District Road Safety Committee emphasised coordinated implementation and routine review of outcomes to ensure interventions address the most critical locations. Authorities expect that timely completion of bridge and barrier works and improved emergency response will contribute to a sustained decline in accidents on the stretch.