Towing vans to clear Freeway after accidents

Mumbai: In order to clear bottlenecks on the Eastern

Freeway

, especially after an accident, the

traffic

police will set up a

towing

service to pull out ill-fated vehicles.

This towing service, said traffic

police

officials, will tow vehicles away, in just five minutes after being alerted. The towing vehicles will be stationed at two exit points on the Freeway—Wadala and Chembur.

Other vehicles which get stranded due to the mishap will be cleared with the help of sirens mounted atop the towing vehicles,said a traffic police official.

“The towing stations will be operational from next week,” said a traffic police official who spoke strictly on the condition of anonymity.

While the initial plan is to set up two towing vehicles—one at each point—more are likely to be deployed after a few weeks. Nearly Rs45 lakh have been spent for the towing service.

Eight closed-circuit television cameras set up on the Freeway will keep watch for any eventuality and the towing service and traffic police will be alerted. “Vehicles involved in accidents remain abandoned at the spot, causing a huge jam, hindering movement of other vehicles. The towing service is being introduced to clear such bottlenecks,” said the official.

To allow smooth passage of the towing vehicles, barricades on the Freeway will be opened and the passage in the centre used by towing vehicles, said the official.

The Freeway has witnessed several accidents caused by reckless driving.