Killer Road: Adi Shankaracharya Marg, Powai
Accident spots: Rambaug Junction
No of accidents in 2011: 17
No of deaths: 17
MiD DAY Road analysis: The road on this stretch is uneven with the cemented part of the road being a couple of feet higher than the gravel
Case Study
On October 5, 2007, Vikram Solanki was riding with his fianc ee, when his bike skid in front of Azara Shopping Mall due to the rugged surface. Vikram died on the spot after a sixteen-wheel container ran over him. His fianc ee, Trishna Jedhia, died on the way to the hospital. While the junction near Larsen & Toubro has a huge pothole that has seen fatal accidents, other killer spots on this road include the IIT main gate junction, Pizza Hut junction and the Milind Nagar junction.
Copspeak
"The year 2011 has seen 14 accidents on the AS Marg, five of which were fatal," said Neelkanth Suryawanshi, police officer at the Powai police station. Suryawanshi added that most of the accidents took place in the monsoon, when the roads were wet and slippery.
Voices
Shailesh Tiwari, (33), distributor, "The Milind Nagar junction sees an accident every two days. There is a big pothole in the middle of the road since three months. There was a small barricade in front of the pothole at first as a warning for vehicles but it's gone now. Deepak Dubey, a resident of the area, said, "Six months back, I was on my bike at Rambaug junction and had to move from the cemented stretch to the gravel. This led to my bike skidding, and I fell down. I got a few bruises on my arm but I was saved."
Killer Road: Wadala-Chembur link road
Accident spots: Opp Anik Depot
No of accidents in 2011: 4
No of deaths: 5
MiD DAY Road analysis: Dumpers and oil company tankers frequent this stretch. The dearth of traffic signals and proper road markings has led to numerous losses of lives of pedestrians.
Case Study
On May 14, 2011, a speeding car trying to evade the cops after hitting another bike, banged Jignesh Patel's (25) bike and knocked him down. A speeding dumper coming from behind struck him again, killing him instantly.
Copspeak
"A vast majority of accidents is caused by trucks and dumpers plying in the area. Pedestrians who walk on the roads are knocked down by these trucks leading to casualties," said a traffic cop on the condition of anonymity.
Voices
"There is no exit signage. Motorists need to get an early intimation and accordingly lower their speed and change lanes. This would prevent accidents when people suddenly lower speed and change lanes to exit the highway," said Mahendra Patel, father of Jignesh.
Vaibhav Mane, Marketing Executive who travels through this route, said "I drive to my showroom at Andheri everyday through this route. This route has over four accident-prone zones within a couple of kilometres. I met with a minor accident once while a speeding dumper overtook my car from the wrong side.
Killer Road: Eastern Express Highway
Accident spots: Opp Pravin hotel and Godrej gate, Vikhroli, and in front of Kanjur Marg dumping ground.
No of accidents in 2011: 22
No of deaths: 5 MiD DAY Road analysis: Uneven at some places with no speed limit signage.
Case Study
As per available statistics, the Eastern Express Highway is one of the most fatal roads in the city where accidents take place almost daily.
On March 8 last year, Deepak Toskar (22) while was on his way to Wadala RTO, met with a fatal accident, when a speeding BMC dumper rammed into him, killing him instantly.
Copspeak
"There are four accident-prone zones on this stretch. The cause of accidents was mainly speeding and negligent driving. Apart from speeding motorists, even pedestrians are at risk due to the lack of FOBs," said a police official requesting anonymity.
Voices
Dhawal Shah, student, said "I commute from Mulund to Ghatkopar on a regular basis to my college through the Eastern Express Highway. In the last two years, I have witnessed several damaged vehicles parked along the highway, each of which has a blood-stained story to tell". The locals want the traffic police stationed at regular intervals along with more of speed breakers with proper lanes defined."
Casualties of road mishaps in the last 10 years
Year Total Accidents Killed Injured
2002 25,470 475 6,547
2003 25,162 394 6,220
2004 25,677 534 5,901
2005 29,265 654 7,476
2006 30,484 669 7,790
2007 29,906 651 6,510
2008 29,781 622 6,454
2009 29,327 628 6,567
2010 28,424 637 5,940
2011 25,471 563 4,858
2012 (till Feb) 1,966 40 380
|
