THANE: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will soon float tenders to introduce hi-tech Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) on the Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Highway in collaboration with South Korea government, officials informed.Chief minister Eknath Shinde, Monday, had announced that the state was taking up safety measures for motorists on the Samruddhi highway. Around 600km of the total 701 km long highway is presently operational between Igatpuri and Nagpur while the stretch till Thane is likely to be ready by next year tentatively, officials said. A senior official said that the cost of the AI-based project is roughly Rs 1250 cr and will be funded by the South Korea government. The system that will entail a network of CCTV cameras along the entire stretch will not just monitor traffic movement on the highway for speed and any lane cutting or similar violations, but will also instantly alert the authorities about these violations.The authorities located at designated spots will be instantly relayed information about these violations and action will be initiated against the errant motorist. The tenders for the project could be floated soon and would take another 1-1.5 years to start operations after the bids are finalised, informed an official. Meanwhile, 15 interceptor vehicles were commissioned by the MSRDC, Monday, in Thane, that will be used for taking action against drivers who violate prescribed speed limit and traffic rules on the Highway. Of the 701 km length of the highway, 600 km between Nagpur and Bharveer near Igatpuri is opened for traffic and nearly 57 lakh vehicles have used it till day, Shinde said. The vehicles were transferred to the state Highway patrol Police after a formal inauguration by Shinde in the presence of public works minister Dadaji Bhuse. MLA Pratap Sarnaik, MLA Ravi Phatak, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Corporation Radheshyam Mopalwar, Co-Managing Director Sanjay Yadav, Co-Managing Director Anil Kumar Gaikwad and Superintendent of Police (Highway Police Squad) Arvind Salve.Additional Director General of Police (Traffic) requested the MSRDC corporation to provide interceptor vehicles for 15 highway police stations to ensure smooth traffic on the highway. Accordingly, 15 SUVs were purchased and equipment like Blinking Light Bar (Red-White-Blue), public address system, First Aid kit, fire extinguishers among others have been installed, informed an official. Speaking about the existing arrangements for safety of passengers, an official said that a central control room has been set up to coordinate during accidents reported on the highways. Alerts of accidents and other incidents will be given to Quick Response Vehicles, 108 Ambulance, Highway Police, Maharashtra State Security Corporation etc which will make it convenient to reach the place of help quickly, officials pointed out.In addition, helpline number boards have been placed on the highway for passengers to get immediate help. Apart from this, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared on the Highway for smooth Incident Management and similarly the work is done through the Incident Management Responder.We are also installing rumbler strips at a distance of every 10kms, along with colored flags and sculptures have been erected to attract the attention of highway drivers. Also, speed measuring booths have been installed at toll booths, so vehicles exceeding speed limit are identified and counselled through the Regional Transport department," explained an official.The MSRDC has also installed a protective wall on both sides of the highway and a chain link fencing erected along the crash barrier to prevent access of wild animals onto the highway, officials added.

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