The International Road Federation (IRF) has conducted a road safety audit on the 70km stretch of National Highway 48 where former Tata Group chairperson Cyrus Mistry and a co-passenger had a fatal crash earlier in September. The portion of NH48 that was investigated lies between Manor, Maharashtra and Achhad, Gujarat.
- IRF asks all medians on six-lane highways to be closed
- Also asks necessary signage to be put up at regular intervals
The audit was conducted within a week of the accident by the India chapter of the Geneva-based global road safety body. The IRF report states that the particular stretch of the highway lacks proper maintenance, has inadequate key road markings and has more than necessary gaps in the median.
KK Kapila, president emeritus at IRF, stated that the team has recommended immediate and essential actions to be taken along the route to improve safety and prevent collisions. The recommendations include adding necessary road signs such as speed limit warnings before diversions and bridges, warnings of reduced carriageways and against overtaking, closing medians from the divider, as well as proper markings to guide drivers.
IRF India chapter president Satish Parakh said the 70km stretch between Manor and Achhad has multiple vehicular and pedestrian underpasses, flyovers, bridges and culverts. He said it was found that at the site where the fatal crash happened, there is an unassuming diversion for the third (outermost) lane, which has been created in an unscientific and non-standard manner without proper signs and markings.
The IRF has also recommended closing off all medians quickly. As per the standard design, there should be no gaps in medians on six-lane highways, according to the report.
The audit was conducted after taking necessary permission from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the report has been submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the road safety body added.
Government delays six-airbag rule for a year
Driver error, road design, likely reasons for Cyrus Mistry accident
Hormazd Sorabjee
Anurag Chaturvedi
