A visit to five spots across the city reveals that road markings like zebra crossings, rumble strips, and reflectors are barely visible; civic officials say they will resolve issue after monsoon
A faded zebra crossing at the busy junction near Sahar Hotel in Vile Parle East. PIC/NIMESH DAVE
In a city where roads are synonymous with potholes, traffic calming devices such as cat’s eyes (reflective studs), rubber speed breakers, and rumble strips, as well as markings like zebra crossings, play an incalculable role in ensuring the safety of motorists and pedestrians. The Indian Road Congress has laid out several rules and regulations on how these devices and lane markings are supposed to be planned out and maintained. However, a visit by mid-day to five locations across the city revealed that due to the constant flow of heavy traffic and the vagaries of Indian weather, numerous physical and visual safety measures were in a sorry state, with erased lane markings being a common sight.
Vedant Mhatre, programme manager of the Walking Project, an advocacy group, told mid-day, “The BMC [Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation] claims it follows a two-year cycle of repainting lane markings, but it needs to be understood that due to humidity and intense rain, along with the heavy traffic, we need to look into a smaller time gap between repainting our roads.”
He added, “When we asked MMRDA [Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority] officials what materials they used while the roads of the Bandra Kurla Complex were being painted, they replied cold plastic paint, a coat of which lasts for a long time and is thick. The BMC, on the other hand, uses thermoplastic paint, which is thinner than regular paint.” Mhatre also says that though cold plastic paint is costly, it lasts long and does not require frequent repaints, which would also save the BMC money in the long term.
Sahar Road junction
This junction is one of the main ones that people use while approaching Terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, and it goes from right underneath Western Express Highway. The spot sees heavy traffic, which leads to major wear and tear on the road. “The faded zebra crossing has been this way for over a year and a half,” said a traffic police constable, requesting anonymity. Due to the lack of lane markings and general awareness, many vehicles are seen stopping ahead of the stop line and onto the zebra crossing of the junction. “We always tell motorists to reverse to get behind the stop line, but this is difficult when the traffic is heavy and when the drivers themselves can’t see where the stop line is,” he added.
Colaba Causeway
Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, which is part of the larger Colaba Causeway area. PIC/ASHISH RAJE
Some of the heaviest pedestrian traffic is seen in this area, with people flocking every evening to shop. The Causeway, which has a faded zebra crossing, is a stretch of more than one kilometre with multiple by-lanes, almost all of which see vehicular traffic movement. Those shoppers are often seen dashing across the road amid traffic flow. “Those who are crossing always run because they can’t see the zebra crossing. We have seen many incidents where accidents almost happened as the cars halt suddenly right on the faded crossing while people try to walk across,” said a stall owner in Colaba, requesting anonymity.
JG Malhotra Chowk
A faded crosswalk at Santacruz’s JG Malhotra Chowk. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE
A partly residential area with pedestrian traffic, Santacruz West’s JG Malhotra Chowk, is another spot with extremely faded zebra crossings, with vehicular traffic halting on the crossing itself due to them. Anna Tony, a resident of Santacruz West, told mid-day, “It gets really difficult to cross the road while also trying to follow road rules. The road already does not have proper pedestrian signals, which indicate when it is safe to cross; and with the faded markings, crossing becomes even more dangerous, especially at night.”
Santacruz-Chembur Link Road
Broken rubber speed breakers near Mumbai University on the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road. PIC/NIMESH DAVE
Being one of the main roads connecting the eastern and western suburbs, this road provides easy access to those who work and live in the areas on its opposite ends, but mid-day spotted several broken cat’s eyes and uprooted rubber rumble strips. These strips were placed on the descending ends of a flyover to slow down motorists. Those driving on the left side of the road could be seen trying to avoid the strips. If a broken piece of the strip comes under a two-wheeler rider’s wheels, it could lead to a mishap.
Maharshi Karve Road
The signal near SK Patil Garden on Maharshi Karve Road. PIC/ASHISH RAJE
This 5-km-long road starts from the eastern exit of the Charni Road station, in front of the Saifee Hospital, and goes all the way to Churchgate station. “I catch a local train on a daily basis, and frequent Marine Lines station quite a lot. Every time a local stops at the station, there is a swarm of people who cross the road to go towards Crawford Market or Mahapalika Marg. There is no uniformity, only constant chaos,” said Shorya Londhe. “I think at one point, there was a zebra crossing at the signal, but now it is completely faded, and there are no pedestrian stop signs either; if this is remedied, the traffic situation in the area would be improved immensely,” said Londhe.
Officials speak
A roads department official of the BMC
A roads department official of the BMC, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We are responsible for the markings only when roads are newly made. After that, all the repainting and maintenance are done by the wards concerned. We send them regular information on what needs to be done, but after that it is on the wards to implement the suggestions we pass on.”
Another BMC official
Another BMC official said, “The commissioner has been focusing on the issue and has asked for better suggestions from his team on good-quality raw materials for road markings. Once we have them, the work will start soon after the monsoon season ends.”
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
