Defunct streetlights make driving on Sion-Panvel highway an ordeal

The street lights on Sion-Panvel highway have been defunct for the past several days.

Even after being aware of the frequent accidents that take place on the busy road, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) has taken no steps to repair them, leaving motorists to travel risking their lives.

According to sources from the Navi Mumbai traffic department, around 79 people died in 73 accidents on Sion-Panvel highway in 2014. Fifty people lost their lives in 48 accidents last year. So far, this year around 12 people died in accidents on the road.

The six-lane road which was in a very bad shape was reconstructed more than a year ago, but little attention was paid for lighting the road properly.

“More people died on this road in 2013 and 2014 while the road was being constructed. With the completion of the construction work, the number of accidents decreased. However, 50 deaths in a year is a serious matter. Needless to say, defunct streetlight is one of the main cause of the accidents that take place at night,” said a traffic official.

Balasaheb Gade, senior police inspector of Panvel traffic unit, said, “The streetlights near Khandeshwar and Kalamboli have been defunct for more than a week now. There is no streetlight in the Thane Naka area (near Garden Hotel) for years now.”

“We have written to the MSRDC several times, requesting them to repair them. But, we have not got any satisfactory reply from them. Apart from streetlights, they should also put signboards to alert motorists of major curves,” he said.

Ritesh Malhotra, 37, a resident of Kharghar said, “Several streetlights on the stretch between Belapur junction and Kharghar railway station are not working for almost two weeks now. People like us who drive regularly on the road are also facing the problem.”

Despite repeated attempts, the MSRDC officials were unavailable for comments.

We have written to the MSRDC several times, requesting them to repair the streetlights. But, we have not got any satisfactory reply. They should also put signboards to alert motorists of major curves. BALASAHEB GADE, senior police inspector of Panvel traffic unit