Nails Like Objects Found on Samruddhi Expressway: Several Cars Suffer Tyre Punctures, MSRDC Responds
Nagpur/Mumbai: Several cars had to stop suddenly late Tuesday night on the Samruddhi Expressway after their tyres were punctured by sharp nails fixed on the bridge surface. A video that has been widely shared shows rows of nails hammered into the road on the Mumbai-bound side of the highway, with vehicles moving cautiously on the adjacent lane.
Initially, commuters suspected foul play, fearing that miscreants had planted the nails to cause accidents or rob travellers. However, authorities later clarified that the nails were part of repair work being carried out by a road construction company. The repair involved filling minor cracks using epoxy grouting, which required aluminum nozzles to be fixed temporarily on the surface.
— Nilesh Patange (@NileshPatange6) September 10, 2025
The work was reportedly completed at 11:30 pm on September 9, 2025. Shortly after, some vehicles moving at high speed crossed the diversion and ran over the nozzles, causing punctures in at least three cars around 12:10 am on September 10. Thankfully, there were no accidents or injuries. The highway patrol reached the site by 12:36 am, and by 5:00 am, the nozzles had been removed, and traffic was running normally.
The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) confirmed that the safety arrangements during the diversion were insufficient, and the contractor responsible has been penalised. Questions remain on why the repair work was done at night without proper barricades or warning signs, with many pointing out the risks posed to commuters.
The Samruddhi Expressway, promoted as Maharashtra’s ‘corridor of prosperity,’ has faced criticism before over safety lapses and recurring accidents. Officials are expected to announce further steps to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
