Mumbai's killer roads: Racing, speeding are common killers here

Reclamation areaBandra WestReclamation at Bandra connects to Mahim Creek S V Road and the Reclamation flyover bridge coming from National Highway 8 During weekends footfall increases manifold making it a massive headache for the traffic police and local cops because the chances of accidents increase in equal measure This is because vehicles move towards the sea link at high speed Bandra Reclamation is also a hub for vehicle racing during the nightCase study On March 25 three teenage boys on a scooter met with an accident near Bandra Reclamation They were going back home to Dharavi around 1130 pm Police said they lost balance while taking a Uturn and the scooter slipped on the road Sayyed Imran 17 was badly injured and when the police took the trio to a hospital Imran was declared brought dead The other two who were also injured were identified as Sayyed Sajid 16 and Javed Shaikh 18 Sajid is Imrans first cousinImran Sayyeds mother with his photo right Sajid Imrans cousin was badly injured in the accidentImrans mother Gulzar Sayyed has blamed the police for his death alleging that he lost balance as he was hit on the head with a police lathi The police however have trashed the allegation Gulzar also said that Imran was her youngest son and doted on her He was employed with a cloth shop on Linking Road and earned around R6000 a month On the night of his accident he had returned home and eaten dinner Around 1030pm he took his fathers twowheeler to go to Bandra Reclamation for a ride along with Sajid and Javed He never returned aliveSajid one of the pillion riders still shivers while recalling the accident He suffered serious shoulder and leg injuries and doctors have inserted an iron rod in his left leg Sajid said after seeing a nakabandi ahead they told Javed to get off and Imran took a Uturn and started riding on the wrong side to avoid the police check They revved up the scooter as they were riding without helmets or licence But one of the cops hit Imran on the face which resulted in him losing control of the scooter and they both fell Imran died on the spot Sajid now fears getting on to a twowheeler His family has spent nearly a lakh on his treatment till date Even six months later Sajid has pain in his leg and finds it difficult to walk or fold his left legProblemsgt Rash drivinggt Driving at high speedgt Car and motorcycle racingSolutionsgt Stationing traffic cops to maintain traffic discipline and control vehicle speed especially during the late evenings and nightsTotal Accidents07for years 2017 and 2018 till Aug 20Types of accidentsCar and bike racers are one of the biggest reasons for accidents on this stretch Other accidents are caused when motorists speed up on seeing an empty stretch of road ahead of them and those trying to escape nakabandisTotal casualties04Death02Seriously injured01Minor injuriesSource Traffic departmentResidents speakRukhsar Memon Bandra ResidentThere are no proper signboards to make people aware about the area and its dangers There is not enough deployment of traffic cops and those available cops are not efficient in their dutiesSoniya Gill Bandra residentThe main problem with Bandra Reclamation is that it has become a vehicle racing spot The police should strategise and work with people to come up with a proper and doable solution for this issueExpertspeakAshutosh Atre Road ExpertNakabandis should be set up at such places where drivers or riders cannot easily escape If possible nakabandis can be put up at two different spots on this stretch Such places need proper sign boards indicating speed limit People need to be made aware of the consequences of speeding and racingDo you have a Killer storyWrite to us and send us photos on mailbagmiddaycomAlso ReadMumbais killer roads Flawed design rash driving makes road at Chunabhatti accident proneCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates