Killer roads: Where riding takes a turn for the worse on JJ Flyover in Mumbai

Even while the pothole menace rages on during the monsoon Mumbai police have drawn up a list of 52 black spots in the city places that witness the most accidents and fatalities In this new series midday revisits these spots speaks to families of those who have lost their dear ones in accidents and asks the traffic police and experts for solutions Today JJ FlyoverThe Saint Makhdoom Ali Mahimi flyover popularly known as JJ flyover that saves motorists a good 25 minutes has now become a veritable death trap The 24 km overpass connects Mazgaon to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus helping motorists skip the busy streets of Mohammed Ali Road Abdul Rehman Street and Bhendi BazarThe Saint Makhdoom Ali Mahimi flyover popularly known as JJ flyover has a dangerous SbendIn recent times however bikers banned from using the flyover enter it at night for a joyride not just costing some their own lives but have also become a potential danger to othersThe flyover has another deadly element mdash the Sbend near the Mandvi telephone exchange which is so sharp that motorists and bikers are sometimes unable to control their vehicles with fatal consequences A warning sign put up there is so close to the danger spot that motorists spot it only when it is too lateCase studY Shahnawaz Khan 18 recalls the night of June 14 when he and friends Iraz Khan 19 Arbaaz Khan 19 and Osama Khan 18 from Kurla were headed to south Mumbai to shop for Eid When we reached JJ hospital we decided to ride on the flyover We were speeding a little and when we reached the Mandvi Telephone Exchange turn Iraz lost control of his bike jumped the divider and crashed into an oncoming car Iraz died in that accident while Arbaaz was badly injuredThe 24 km overpass helps motorists avoid travelling through the busy streets of Mohammed Ali Road Abdul Rehman Street and Bhendi Bazar File PicsEven I was riding at high speed but I managed to control the bike and suffered minor injuries on my leg This accident has changed my life Ive lost a good friend he saidSaying that JJ flyover tempts bikers like himself with its twists and turns Shahnawaz said Either the authorities should ensure that no biker enters this bridge or fine people heavily to deter them Secondly the dividers should be higher so that vehicles cant cross over he saidKashan Khan holds up a photo of his elder brother Iraz who died while his friend Arbaaz Usmani right was grievously injured after their bike hit a car coming from the opposite direction on JJacircAcircu00c2u0080Acircu00c2u0088flyover last month PicsRajesh GuptaArbazs brother Feroz said The car driving parallel to them tried to corner them The driver of the car did not see the curve which led to the mishap Usmani said he was aware of how dangerous the curve is and that is was difficult to spot at nightAccidents06 Total no of accidents in 2017 and 2018 till June 30TYPES of accidentsMainly caused by bikers mdash who are banned on the bridge mdash speeding on the stretch losing control of the vehicle and crossing the divider and crashing into side railings or into vehicles coming from the opposite directionThe Sbend near Mandvi Telephone Exchange is also an accidentprone spotFatalities09 Total no of fatalities in 2017 and 2018 till June 30Source Traffic DepartmentLocals speakKhalid MuttamResident Bhendi BazaarTheres need to create awareness about roads youngsters should take and avoid The JJ flyover should be top priority when it comes to that everyone should be made aware that it is banned for bikes Some preventive action is required to ensure bikes do not get on at night as most accidents take place at that time Theres also a need for signs or rumblers a variation of speed breakers on bends to avoid accidentsExperts speakYogesh AmbeBloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety BIGRSThe Sbend on JJ is dangerous Theres a building next to the curve that creates an illusion before the drivers causing them to lose control resulting in accidents To avoid this there should be neon signs or arrows to remind drivers that there is a turn ahead In addition to a speed monitoring mechanism on the entire bridge rumblers are also requiredPolice speakShivaji ShivtarePydhonie traffic divisionAll the fatalities occurring on the bridge usually involve bikers Even if they dont the reason for the accidents remains the same which is speeding Speed cameras are being installed along the flyover which will make it mandatory for motorists to drive at 30kmhour This will bring some change in the current scenario The cameras are currently being tested and will soon be operationalProblemsBikers entering the flyover at nightSpeeding at the curve above Mandvi Telephone Exchange SolutionsDeploy police at night to stop bikers on bridgePut up a speed camera to check speedingPut up dividers with reflectors at regular intervals to avoid mishapsAlso ReadMumbai After spate of accidents cops to impose 30 kmph speed limit on JJ bridgeCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime 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