DNA: Mumbai: Sunday, 03 August 2014.
The emergency
call boxes (ECBs) along both sides of a section of national highway no. 8
(connecting Virar to Surat), are currently playing the role of showpieces
instead of helping stranded commuters contact the relevant authorities in case
of a breakdown or accident. Kandivali resident Mehul Kataria, also an RTI
activist, learnt this the hard way, when his car broke down on his way to
Dahanu on Tuesday.
Just after
Kataria and his family had crossed Virar, their car began to sputter. "We
had three children in the car, so we were really worried. That's when we saw
the emergency phones. I rushed to the booth only to find that the phone wasn't
working," said Kataria.
"The
road was flooded and there had already been 2-3 accidents along this stretch. I
managed to drive the car a little further and tried to call from other EBCs.
But even those weren't working. Finally, we somehow managed to get the car to
work," said the activist.
When they
reached a toll naka, Kataria and his friends ask its staff why the EBCs were
not working. "They seemed clueless. It was surprising, because so many
tourists, especially foreigners, who are first-time visitors, take this route.
What will they do in case of an emergency?" he asked.
On Wednesday,
Kataria filed an RTI with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)
demanding an explanation. He was shocked to find that the EBCs between Virar
and Charoti were not defunct, they had not been connected at all.
Mukund
Attarde, manager, technical NHAI, said that the phones lines had not yet been
connected. He advised commuters to instead call on helpline numbers displayed
every few metres along the highway. "We have already commissioned the
lines between Charoti and Surat. From Mumbai to Charoti will be done in another
month's time," said Attarde, adding that if all goes well, lines may start
working in 15 days.
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