GUJARAT – A state transport (ST) bus crashed into a stationary truck on the Ahmedabad-Mehsana highway, near the Kalol GIDC gate, resulting in the death of the bus driver and leaving 19 passengers with minor injuries. This incident marks the second major collision on the highway within a week, escalating concerns over road safety.

The latest accident occurred on Tuesday night, involving a truck that was pulling another. The ST bus, which was travelling from Sanchore to Ahmedabad, hit the truck from behind, leading to a severe impact. The collision was so intense that the front portion of the bus was demolished. Prafulsinh Chauhan, the ST bus driver, died on the spot.

Emergency services were immediately alerted to the situation. 108 Ambulance Pilot Maneklal and EMT Mukeshbhai Sutaria quickly initiated rescue operations and transported the injured passengers to the Kalol Community Health Center and Referral Hospital for treatment.

Increasing traffic on the Ahmedabad-Mehsana four-lane highway, built two decades ago, has intensified the risk of accidents, prompting urgent calls for infrastructural upgrades. Despite several promises to expand the road to six lanes, the state government has yet to deliver, leading to ongoing loss of life on State Highway 41.

"The toll road has become a frequent accident zone due to the negligence of Gujarat Road and Infrastructure Company Limited (GRICL)," said a local resident, voicing a common complaint. Traffic congestion and the regular occurrence of accidents have led to mounting pressure on the government to take preventive measures.

Aside from the need for road expansion, there is a growing concern about the narrow Ambika bus stand, where a single bus stop can block the way for other vehicles. Private vehicle drivers are also contributing to the congestion by parking at Ambika to pick up passengers.

Additional issues include the toll company's inaction over repeated complaints, and the persistent problem of stray cattle on the highway. Citizens now anxiously await action from GRICL to address these ongoing issues and make the necessary improvements to the highway, in a bid to prevent further loss of life and property.