Traffic on the crucial Pune-Mumbai Expressway has finally resumed after a prolonged and hazardous disruption lasting over 32 hours. The crisis was triggered by an overturned tanker carrying highly flammable propylene gas, which led to extensive safety measures and a complete halt in vehicular movement. Although normal traffic flow has been restored, authorities report that a significant backlog of heavy vehicles remains, indicating that the situation will take additional time to fully normalize.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
The incident occurred around 5 pm on Tuesday near the entrance to the Adoshi Tunnel on the Mumbai-bound corridor of the expressway in Raigad district. A Bharat Petroleum tanker, laden with propylene, overturned while navigating a curve, resulting in a detected gas leak. Propylene, a highly flammable industrial gas used in petrochemical manufacturing, posed an extreme explosion risk, necessitating immediate action.
In response, teams from the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) swiftly launched an operation to control the leak. As a safety precaution, both corridors of the expressway were fully closed to traffic, with vehicles diverted to the old Pune-Mumbai highway. This led to massive traffic jams, with queues stretching up to 20 kilometers, causing one of the longest disruptions in the expressway's history.
High-Risk Gas Transfer Operation
After partially controlling the leak, authorities initiated a critical operation to transfer the remaining gas from the damaged tanker to two or three empty tankers. This high-risk procedure began around 6 pm on Wednesday and continued until 2 am on Thursday. Vikrant Deshmukh, Superintendent of the Highway Safety Patrol (HSP) in Pune, confirmed the successful completion of this operation, which allowed traffic to resume on both corridors.
Deshmukh stated, "Following the completion of gas transfer, the traffic on both corridors on the expressway resumed. But there are a large number of heavy vehicles on the expressway, so it will take some more time for the traffic situation to be normal." This highlights the ongoing challenges despite the restoration of flow, as the expressway continues to handle the accumulated backlog of commercial and heavy vehicles.
Impact and Aftermath
The disruption had a severe impact on commuters and logistics between Pune and Mumbai, two of India's major metropolitan hubs. The expressway, often described as a critical lifeline, faced unprecedented delays, affecting thousands of travelers and businesses reliant on timely transport. The incident underscores persistent issues with safety and infrastructure on this vital route, raising concerns about future preparedness for such emergencies.
While traffic has resumed, the lingering effects of the 32-hour closure are evident in the slow clearance of heavy vehicles. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure smooth operations and prevent further incidents. This event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in key transportation networks and the importance of robust disaster response mechanisms.
