Mumbai, Aug. 25 -- Chaitanya Patil, a 28-year-old activist from Kasu village, has adopted a novel approach to highlight the pitiable condition of the highway. Patil is undertaking a 'Rasta Satyagraha', walking 500 kilometers along the highway to document potholes, missing road signs, and other safety hazards that put commuters' lives at risk. "I have seen work underway on the Mumbai-Goa Highway since my childhood," Patil said. "I have also personally seen many accidents and they have wrecked people's lives. This walk is my way of drawing attention to these issues." Patil has been filing complaints about potholes on the highway via phone, email and social media since 2019. There were several instances when potholes he flagged were filled within 24-48 hours, he said proudly. Last year, he submitted GPS-tagged photos of the Palaspe-Mangaon stretch with the chief minister, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and district authorities, which prompted partial repairs. Patil began the 'Rasta Satyagraha' on August 9 from Palaspe in Raigad, and covered more than 100 kilometres over 10 days before halting at Mahad due to heavy rains and health concerns. He meticulously noted down various problem areas and captured GPS-tagged photos during the first phase of his journey, and plans to submit a report to the NHAI, local administrations, and government representatives once he covers the entire route. "My only goal," he said, "is to make the Mumbai-Goa Highway safe, accident-free, and of good quality, so that people can travel without fear. People's lives should not be at risk because of bad roads." While police deployment to manage the festive rush has increased, commuters too need to play their part, he said, adding, "Follow traffic rules, avoid overtaking recklessly, and don't drive in the wrong direction. If we work together, we can reduce accidents and make the journey safer."...