To curb planespotting and accidents, police urge NHAI to install view cutters near NMIA

Senior police inspector Nitin Thakare urged citizens to avoid risking lives for social media content, emphasizing safety and not stopping on highways.

The article notes that view cutters have previously been installed in Mumbai on the Milan subway flyover following traffic police advice; planespotters in the city have used other sites such as hillocks and elevated roads near airports for viewing.

Anshumali Shrivastava, chief general manager of NHAI, said the measures are more enforcement-related but that sign boards and discussions with NMIA and other stakeholders would be pursued; NMIA sources indicated they had written to NHAI about the issue; NHAI spokesperson declined to comment.

Bhavya Velani, a professional planespotter, said the affected highway stretch is risky for bystanders and that he photographs from elsewhere.

Inspector Tirupati Kakade and Kalamboli traffic police stated that additional policing would be deployed during peak hours to manage traffic and discourage gatherings; there was also mention of regulating traffic on nearby service roads and installing clear, directional and no-U-turn signages along the stretch.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe announced the proposal to install view cutters on the 500-metre NH-548 stretch from JNPA T-point to Kalamboli Circle to restrict viewing of flight operations and curb planespotting near NMIA.

A decision to send a fresh proposal to NHAI was taken after a string of accidents near the affected stretch, following earlier letters that did not elicit a response.

A second follow-up letter was sent to NHAI; authorities had not yet responded to prior communications.

A follow-up letter was sent by Navi Mumbai Police to NHAI reiterating the request for view cutters and accompanying safety measures.

The Navi Mumbai Police sent the first letter to the National Highways Authority of India requesting urgent intervention to install view cutters on the 500-metre stretch of NH-548 from JNPA T-point to Kalamboli Circle to restrict the view of flight operations near NMIA and deter planespotters.