The recent fatal accident at Dadar’s Plaza Cinema Circle has once again brought Mumbai’s road safety concerns into sharp focus, prompting residents from different parts of the city to highlight several accident-prone junctions that they believe require immediate attention from traffic authorities.
Citizens have identified three particularly hazardous locations in Borivli East, Kanjurmarg and Bandra, citing issues such as poor visibility, speeding vehicles, inadequate traffic management and unsafe pedestrian conditions. Residents are urging authorities to implement preventive measures before more serious accidents occur.
Borivli East: SGNP Junction
One of the locations flagged by residents is the junction near the entrance of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli East.
According to local residents, the installation of Metro infrastructure, including a pillar and barricades near the intersection, has significantly reduced visibility for motorists. Combined with fast-moving traffic on the Western Express Highway, the situation has increased the risk of collisions.
Resident Anjali Ramchandran said, “Till the time there was only the tree, it was manageable. But now the Metro pillar and barricades have created a blind spot. Vehicles on the highway are travelling at high speeds. Even a 30-second signal can help avoid accidents.”
Residents have suggested installing a traffic signal and introducing controlled traffic stoppages to improve safety at the junction.
Kanjurmarg Bridge Stretch
Motorists have also raised concerns about the narrow bridge connecting Kanjurmarg and Powai, describing it as increasingly dangerous due to speeding vehicles and restricted visibility.
Key concerns include a narrow carriageway, limited sight distance along the slope, aggressive overtaking by two-wheelers and headlight glare during evening hours.
Commuter Sushil Jadhav said, “Till the vehicle reaches the slope, you cannot see traffic approaching from the opposite side. There needs to be a divider throughout the bridge to avoid collisions.”
Residents have called for the installation of a continuous divider and stronger measures to curb speeding along the stretch.
Chetna College Circle, Bandra
Another junction identified as a major concern is the busy Chetna College Circle in Bandra, where residents say chaotic traffic movement and rash driving have made commuting increasingly unsafe.
The junction experiences heavy congestion, with vehicles approaching simultaneously from four directions. Frequent lane-cutting, bottlenecks and the presence of share auto-rickshaws further complicate traffic movement.
Commuter Falguni Ketkar remarked, “Chetna College Circle is one of the deathbeds of Bandra. There are vehicles coming from four directions, and drivers try to squeeze through at speed.”
Residents are demanding the deployment of a full-time traffic police officer and stricter traffic regulation during peak hours to improve safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents.
Source: Mid-day
