09 August,2026 09:03 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
The tribunal fixed the final compensation at Rs 63.8 lakh. Representational Pic
A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in Thane has awarded Rs 63.8 lakh in compensation to the family of a 34-year-old man who died after a truck hit his motorcycle in 2018.
MACT member R V Mohite on Friday directed the truck owner, Rajaram R Gupta, and the insurer, Shri Ram General Insurance Co. Ltd., to jointly and severally pay the compensation, along with interest at 9 per cent per annum from the date of filing of the petition in 2018 until the amount is realised, reported PTI.
The petition was filed by the victim's wife, Sharad Gaikwad, his two children and his parents.
The plea stated that on June 4, 2018, the victim, who worked as a store manager, was riding pillion on a motorcycle on the Nashik-Mumbai Highway when a speeding truck rammed into the two-wheeler. He sustained severe injuries and died days later in a hospital.
Police filed a chargesheet against the truck driver, Rameqbal Rajitram Mishra.
The insurance company contested the claim, challenging the truck's involvement in the accident and pointing to a 29-day delay in lodging the formal FIR on July 3, 2018. It also questioned the driver's identity and alleged a breach of the insurance policy's terms, reported PTI.
Rejecting the insurer's arguments, the tribunal observed that the health and well-being of the victim were the immediate priorities of his relatives following the accident and that they could not be expected to rush to the police station first.
The tribunal held that a delay in lodging an FIR cannot be a ground to deny the involvement of the offending vehicle when supported by the chargesheet and eyewitness testimony.
Taking into account the deceased's monthly income of Rs 23,800 and his age, the tribunal fixed the final compensation at Rs 63.8 lakh.
The authorities have decided to tighten surveillance on overspeeding vehicles and traffic violations on the newly opened Pune-Mumbai Missing Link section of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Advanced speed monitoring cameras will be installed inside all four tunnels on the route, while the Highway Police have also launched a special drive against the illegal entry of heavy vehicles on the restricted stretch. The cameras will keep a close watch on vehicle movement and automatically detect violations.
The decision was taken following concerns over the sharp increase in vehicle speeds on the Missing Link, which has significantly reduced travel time between Pune and Mumbai. After a fatal accident late on Thursday night claimed one life, officials from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Highway Police inspected the accident spot and reviewed additional road safety measures.
Speaking to Sunday mid-day, Shivaji Pawar, Superintendent of Highway Police, said, "There are two ways to reduce mishaps on the expressway - awareness and enforcement. Awareness campaigns are already underway, but many motorists continue to drive in a hurry. Therefore, enforcement will now be implemented more strictly. Strict action against traffic violators will continue, and effective measures are being taken to prevent the illegal entry of heavy vehicles on the Missing Link."
