BMC, don’t ignore: Dangerous lid near Bandra station sparks accidents; act before a death

A biker loses balance on the uneven surface while a bus approaches from behind, a near-fatal moment

While Swami Vivekananda Road already suffers from poor pedestrian infrastructure, commuters now have a new problem. At the junction where GR Varasakar Marg meets SV Road near the Bharat Petroleum petrol pump in Bandra, a large metal lid placed over a sunken utility cover has become a daily hazard for riders.

The temporary lid has a smooth, frictionless surface and sits about an inch above road level, causing multiple two-wheeler riders to skid and fall, especially when the road is wet.

"I've been raising this issue for weeks, and no one has done anything. Many people have fallen, whether the lid is wet or dry," said Mohmad Sameer, a local resident. He added that ongoing Metro construction has caused water pipeline leaks, flooding the area and making the lid even more slippery.

A car struggles to drive over the raised metal lid

A gas station attendant, Srimanth Kamble, who witnesses the spot throughout the day, said, "There was an accident this morning (on Friday). We go out to help riders almost every day."

Traffic police constables stationed at the junction echoed the concerns, stating that they have repeatedly written to the BMC. "We have sent multiple reminders, but nothing has been done. Since morning, three accidents have already happened, and that's the daily average," said one constable, requesting anonymity.

Officers said they have even tried temporary fixes themselves. "The lid is huge and crooked. Whenever it shifts, we flag down a JCB and ask them to align it so riders don't hit the dip underneath," the constable added.

A large visible gap forms between the road and the metal lid as it shifts out of place. Pics/Satej Shinde

They fear a more serious tragedy is inevitable. "One day someone will fall, and the vehicle behind them won't brake in time. Someone could lose their life because the road isn't maintained properly."

Meerjahan Khan, a local resident who uses the road daily, said, "The metal lid was placed because driving over the sunken utility cover had become difficult and uncomfortable. But now, because this lid is so smooth, it acts like a bandaid on a bullet wound, it does more harm than good."

The metal sheet placed over a sunken utility cover at the SV Road-GR Varasakar Marg junction in Bandra. Pics/Madhulika Kavattur

While this reporter was speaking to Khan, a man on an Activa skidded on the metal lid and fell. The slip was so severe that his fallen vehicle hit another rider's two-wheeler. Fortunately, the rider was not injured, and those behind him managed to brake in time.

As the traffic cops had earlier told mid-day, the lid keeps shifting. By Friday evening, it had moved even further, exposing the sunken patch beneath. This caused trouble for two cars - one driving over the lid had its tyre slip, causing the vehicle to tilt and brush against the car next to it.

A large visible gap forms between the road and the metal lid as it dangerously shifts out of place. Pic/Satej Shinde

The raised lid is also making it difficult for two-wheeler riders, who often struggle to climb onto it, leading to small traffic jams forming behind them. mid-day contacted BMC H West Ward but received no response till press time.