Mid-Day Impact: Unmarked speed breakers in Mumbai's Aarey Milk Colony to get safety paint

Speed breakers painted white on an internal road at Aarey following a mid-day report highlighting safety concerns

Following a mid-day report highlighting the dangers posed by unmarked speed breakers, the Public Works Department (PWD) has initiated work to paint speed breakers on the internal roads of Aarey Milk Colony, aiming to improve visibility and enhance safety for motorists and two-wheeler riders, especially at night.

On January 3, mid-day published a report which pointed out that while the PWD had begun installing speed breakers on Aarey's internal roads to protect commuters and wildlife, many of them lacked reflective paint and warning signs. As a result, the speed breakers were barely visible after dark, posing a serious risk to two-wheeler riders. After the issue was highlighted by mid-day, the PWD began painting white markings on the speed breakers.

Unmarked speed breakers on a road at Aarey. Pics/Satej Shinde

Aarey resident and nature lover Aditya Shinde welcomed the move. "It is encouraging to see that following a mid-day report, the authorities have taken note of the issue and begun painting the speed breakers. We hope the markings will be repainted regularly once they fade. Additionally, installing proper speed-breaker signage and cat's eyes is crucial, as these measures significantly improve visibility and act as vital alerts for motorists and two-wheeler riders," he said.

Clearly marked speed breakers at Aarey Milk Colony after the PWD applied white paint to improve night-time visibility

On Tuesday, mid-day visited the internal roads at Aarey Milk Colony and observed that several speed breakers had been painted white. However, at a few locations, the paint was already fading. Local residents said better-quality paint should be used to ensure the markings last longer and remain clearly visible. Sources in the PWD said an additional coat of white paint will be applied to the already painted speed breakers to prevent quick fading.

Earlier, on March 5, mid-day had published a report titled PWD works on Aarey roads as survey identifies 43 wildlife crossing points. The story explained how members of the Urban Joint Forest Management Committees had surveyed the area and identified 43 locations where wild animals frequently cross. Their report was submitted to the additional principal chief conservator of forests, Western Wildlife Region. The Aarey police have also suggested locations for speed breakers on the main road to the BMC, though no progress has been made on that front.

Unmarked speed breakers inside Aarey Milk Colony, barely visible after dark and flagged as a safety concern. Pics/Satej Shinde

Aarey Milk Colony is an ecologically sensitive area, with 812 acres falling within the SGNP boundary. The region is home to diverse wildlife, including leopards, jungle cats, spotted deer, sambar deer, rusty-spotted cats, small Indian civets, palm civets, and several species of reptiles and birds.