It is heartening to learn that basic facilities such as toilets, petrol pumps, and food malls will soon be available along the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Maharashtra 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 criticisms regarding the current lack of such facilities on the expressway.
These amenities are not luxuries or frills but necessities that play a crucial role in preventing driver fatigue and accidents. Fadnavis rightly emphasized that while constructing any road in the future, an ecosystem should be developed in the surrounding area to support commuters’ needs.
This approach is especially important in light of concerns raised by experts about residential projects—particularly high-rise towers—being developed without adequate supporting infrastructure. Where is the ecosystem to sustain these developments? A holistic and comprehensive perspective is needed for any infrastructure project, ensuring that adjunct facilities are built alongside the main structure.
Travelers heading to the West often experience highways and expressways equipped with well-maintained toilets, basic stores, malls, and food and drink kiosks along the way. Unfortunately, this is not yet the case here. Many stretches of our roads completely lack toilets, causing discomfort and distress for travelers and prompting them to reconsider or even cancel their road trips.
Those traveling with senior citizens are especially cautious about using our roads if amenities are missing. This underscores the importance of setting deadlines not only for the completion of road projects but also for the development of essential support infrastructure alongside them.
A visionary approach is needed to shape the future of road transport. Beyond superior road quality—including lighting, clear signage, visibility, and safety warnings—we must prioritize restrooms, food facilities, and fuel stops en route.
Such additions transform a mere road project into a complete, user-centered system. It shifts the focus from just the vehicle or the road to incorporating the human factor, effectively closing the loop for a safer and more comfortable commute.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/road-transport-requires-visionary-approach-23597113
