100 KM Patch Deadly On Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway; Accidents due to bad road and mismanagement
This year 62 people were killed and 192 were injured in the car accident where former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry’s car took place. On the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, the 100-km stretch between Ghodbunder in Thane district to Dapchari in Palghar district has witnessed 262 accidents this year. Police say that accidents happen due to bad roads, lack of signals and lack of speed control measures.
A Maharashtra Highway Police official said that the area near Charoti, where Cyrus Mistry’s Mercedes car crashed on September 4, has so far killed 26 people in 25 serious accidents since the beginning of this year. 25 people have died in 34 serious accidents near Chinchoti, while 11 people have died in 10 accidents near Manor.
There is a charoti black spot on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway. Most of the accidents take place on the road up to 500 meters from Charoti towards Mumbai. Here the road turns before the bridge over the Surya River, as the three-lane carriageway narrows into two, leading to Mumbai.
No road signs and warning signs
According to the Highway Police Officer, there are no effective road signs or speed stop signs on the highway and warnings to be given before reaching the bridge. There seems to have been a disregard for the safety guidelines of the Indian Roads Congress, which is responsible for the maintenance of the road.
Toll collecting agency
Another official of the Highway Police said that the road comes under the purview of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), but the responsibility of its maintenance rests with a private toll-collecting agency. The rule is that the agency should keep one ambulance on stand-by every 30 kms. There should also be a crane and patrol vehicles.
Maharashtra Police has written to the Central Road Research Institute seeking expert opinion on safety measures and also asked the Central Road Transport Institute to conduct a road safety audit. Highway which is located inside Maharashtra.
Former Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry died in an accident on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai highway on September 4. His Mercedes GLC 220 car collided with the divider on the bridge over the Surya river on the highway. They were returning from Udvada Parsi temple in Gujarat. Mistry (54) and his friend Jehangir Pandole (49) lost their lives in the accident, while Dr. Anayata Pandole, who was driving the car, and her husband Daryas Pandole were injured.
