GAIL Pipeline Leak Near Samruddhi Expressway Prompts 24-km Traffic Diversion

A gas leak from a GAIL pipeline near the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district prompted authorities to divert traffic on a 24-kilometre stretch of the highway on Saturday evening as a precautionary measure.

The leak was reported at approximately 5 pm near Takliwadi in Gangapur taluka, which lies adjacent to the expressway. District administration officials were alerted, and immediate precautionary steps were initiated. Fire-fighting equipment was also positioned at the site as a safety measure.

As a result, traffic between chainage 447 and 470 of the expressway—covering the stretch from Hadas Pimpalgaon to Maliwada—has been redirected onto the Dhule-Solapur highway, according to District Collector Vinay Gowda G C.

Vehicles heading towards Mumbai are being directed to exit at the Hadas Pimpalgaon interchange, travel via the Dhule-Solapur highway, and re-enter the expressway at Maliwada. Similarly, vehicles bound for Nagpur will exit at Maliwada, use the alternate highway, and rejoin the expressway at Hadas Pimpalgaon.

Experts from GAIL have shut valves on both sides of the affected pipeline section, and the pressure inside the pipeline is gradually decreasing, the administration said. Senior district and police officials are monitoring the situation, and efforts are underway to restore normal traffic flow at the earliest.