Navi Mumbai Traffic Police have urged the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to introduce comprehensive safety improvements along Palm Beach Road following a fatal accident near Sarsole signal on September 27, in which a woman lost her life.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dr Rahul Khade has written to the civic body, highlighting shortcomings in existing traffic-calming measures and recommending upgraded infrastructure to prevent speeding and improve road safety.
Higher Rumble Strips at Accident-Prone Junctions
The police have proposed increasing the height of existing rumble strips from 12.5 mm to 20 mm to make them more effective in slowing vehicles. The recommended design includes three to four rows of strips placed at intervals of 15 metres.
Four locations have been identified for urgent intervention: Akshar signal, TS Chanakya signal, Sarsole signal and Moraj signal.
Unsafe Road Opening to Be Closed
The traffic department has also called for the permanent closure of an opening created by breaking an iron railing near Moraj signal. The gap currently allows vehicles travelling from Akshar Tower to enter the main carriageway, potentially creating hazardous traffic movements.
Measures to Protect Two-Wheelers
To improve safety for two-wheeler riders, officials have recommended installing signboards directing them to use the left lane. They have also proposed raising roadside shoulders to match the road level and placing reflective red stickers on dividers and side railings to improve visibility.
AI Cameras and Better Night Lighting
The proposed plan includes installing artificial intelligence-based speed cameras at four to five locations identified as speeding hotspots. The police have also recommended replacing outdated streetlights with brighter LED fixtures to improve visibility after dark.
Additional measures include repainting road markings in black and yellow and installing cat’s-eye reflectors to help drivers identify road edges and dividers more clearly.
Civic Body Asked to Act
The recommendations place responsibility on the NMMC to address infrastructure deficiencies and strengthen traffic management along the Vashi-Belapur stretch. The proposed measures aim to discourage speeding, improve visibility and reduce accident risks on Palm Beach Road.
The extent of implementation will depend on the civic body’s response to the traffic police’s recommendations.
Source: Mid-day
