The recently expanded stretch of the Mumbai–Nashik Highway near Kharegaon has emerged as a serious accident-prone zone, with at least three fatalities reported within a month in separate road crashes between the Nayara Petrol Pump and Kharegaon toll naka stretch. Despite ongoing finishing work on a toll plaza in the area, motorists and residents have raised concerns over missing safety infrastructure and poor traffic design.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has widened the corridor to 12 lanes as part of a major infrastructure upgrade connecting Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Highway, and the Mumbai–Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg at Amane. However, commuters allege that essential road safety systems such as warning signboards, lane markings, reflectors, rumble strips, and speed-control measures are largely absent across the nearly 30-km stretch between Majiwada and Wadpe.
Motorists have identified the Kharegaon junction as one of the most dangerous points on the route. Traffic merging from the Mumbra Bypass enters the Thane-bound carriageway, while vehicles descending from Kharegaon Bridge often travel at speeds of 80–100 kmph. Commuters say the lack of advance signage and lane guidance leaves little reaction time for sudden merging vehicles, increasing the risk of collisions.
On April 18, a Dombivli couple, both banking professionals, lost their lives when their motorcycle was hit by a container truck near the same spot. Earlier, on April 14, a speeding car rammed into a parked tanker near Nayara Petrol Pump, killing the driver and injuring four passengers.
Another concern has been the Mumbra turn section, where motorists travelling towards Nashik reportedly struggle with last-minute lane shifts due to missing directional signage, leading to frequent near-miss incidents.
Amid these safety concerns, a 30-booth toll plaza at Kharegaon is nearing completion, triggering political opposition and public protests over the possible resumption of toll collection.
Manoj Pradhan, NCP (SP) district president, said, “The Kharegaon toll naka started in 1998 and was shut down in 2017 after prolonged protests. Now the government wants to restart toll collection, but basic safety measures are still missing on the highway. The deaths of three innocent people within a month clearly show that motorists’ lives are not being taken seriously. Immediate installation of signages and safety infrastructure is necessary. We will not allow toll collection on this route, which is crucial for residents of Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan,” Pradhan said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pankaj Shirsat said surveys have identified multiple black spots and urged urgent corrective action, including speed breakers, rumblers, lane markings, and intersection safety upgrades. He added that notices have been sent to NHAI and MSRDC for immediate intervention.
Repeated attempts to contact officials for a response remained unsuccessful.
Source: Hindustan Times
