Pune, Jun 26 (TOI): The state highway safety patrol (HSP) has started nine police posts in the Khandala section on the Pune Expressway.

The posts have come up in the last two days on an 18km stretch, and their primary mandate is to ease the movement of traffic in this section. The policemen manning the chowkys were instructed to keep a lookout for errant drivers and also to assist motorists should they find themselves in difficulty in the ghat section.

The nine posts were set up by the Pune and Thane units of the highway patrol after instructions were issued by additional director general of police (traffic) R K Padmanabhan. "Cops in each will have jurisdiction over a two-km-stretch of the expressway," said Amol Tambe, police superintendent of the HSP Pune.

Each outpost will have a bike, wireless kits and cops will have LED batons and reflective jackets.

The cops have specific orders to disallow motorists from halting on the expressway, especially in the ghat section where people tend to stop to look at the Khandala valley.

Two officers of the sub-inspector rank have been instructed to pay visit these posts regularly. The two officers will also chip in to clear traffic snarls, if required.

"In case of an accident, the personnel will have to act fast to provide medical aid to the victims and clear the traffic," Tambe said.