Pune: The state govt has undertaken the widening of Ambenali Ghat that connects Konkan to western Maharashtra.Some MLAs on Wednesday, citing the accident that killed eight people travelling by an SUV that plunged into a valley from the ghat last month, raised the issue of the lack of safety measures. The May 24 accident went unnoticed for more than 18 hours.Congress MLA Amin Patel, speaking in the assembly, said that despite frequent accidents in this ghat, govt has not put up safety measures. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu said that the accident which went unnoticed for nearly a day was the highway authorities and the police department’s failure.PWD minister Shivendrasinh Bhonsle said that govt has undertaken road widening of the ghat. “The spot where the accident took place was 14m wide and crash barriers were installed. The vehicle plunged into the valley after the driver lost control. Govt will set up a checkpost at Wada Kumbhroshi village at the base of Pratapgad in Satara. The police and PWD employees will be present to respond to any emergency in the ghat section.”The minister added that 14km of the ghat, which is 5.5m wide, will be widened to 10m, and another 10m stretch will be widened from 7m to 12m. The remaining stretch of 16km from Pratapgad to Mahabaleshwar is currently 5.5m wide and will be widened to 10m. PWD will install all safety barriers as per the norms, Bhonsle added.
