Mumbai: Chedda Nagar, Mankhurd top list of killer roads

Chedda Nagar junction had the maximum number of accidents in 2020. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

Though the number of accidents reported in the city over the past one year has been less compared to the previous years, the Mumbai Traffic Police have identified 13 spots where 65 major accidents have taken place. Chedda Nagar junction tops the list with nine accidents, which led to five fatalities and nine injuries. Mankhurd Octroi Naka on Sion-Panvel Highway is second on the list with eight accidents, which led to four fatalities and six injuries. Replying to an RTI query filed by mid-day, the traffic police said that accidents at the 13 spots claimed 22 lives and left 70 people severely injured.

Chedda Nagar junction - the stretch which connects Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road with Eastern Express Highway - has emerged as a death trap even during the pandemic. "This stretch is quite busy throughout the day except for a couple of hours during the early part of the day," said a traffic cop on duty at the junction.

Senior inspector Sanjay Bhalerao, in-charge of Chembur division, said that the main reason for accidents at both the spots was over-speeding. "Motorists don't adhere to the speed limit which results in accidents at the spots. As far as the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road is concerned, we have given a proposal to put rumblers at regular intervals on the bridge, which will prevent over-speeding," he said. According to traffic cops stationed at Octroi naka, reckless driving had turned the spot into a death trap.

A cop said, "Earlier when the Octroi naka was functional, heavy vehicles used to move on the stretch, which would help to keep the number of smaller vehicles under check. Also, there was a signal near the naka which would prevent motorists from speeding. Now they descend from Vashi bridge and try to speed but halt suddenly noticing the signal. The same thing happens on the other end where motorists try to reach the bridge very fast leading to mishaps."

Speaking to mid-day, Kishore Shinde, senior inspector, in-charge of Mankhurd traffic division said, "In the absence of an Octroi naka, a signal is not needed, hence accidents are happening."

Black spots in 2020
>> Chedda Nagar and SCLR Bridge - Nine accidents, five deaths, nine injured
>>Octroi Naka, Mankhurd - Eight accidents, four deaths, six injured
>>Near Vikhroli traffic chowky - Six accidents, two deaths, five injured
>>Godrej Ghoda Gate, Vikhroli - Five accidents, two deaths, five injured
>>Bindu Madhav Thackeray junction, Vikhroli - Five accidents, two deaths, seven injured