Mumbai: No accidents on Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road, bike ban may continue, says traffic department

GMLR flyover has witnessed 30 accidents since its inauguration

The month-long bike ban on the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road (GMLR) has worked well for the Mumbai Traffic Department. In September, when bikers were banned on the flyover, not a single accident was reported. The modification done on the flyover including setting up additional rumblers and speed breakers has kept speedsters in check and reduced rash driving.

The traffic department is now considering continuing the bike ban, like on JJ flyover and Eastern Freeway.

The flyover was reopened for traffic on September 2 with a ban on bike movement till October 1.

GMLR, which was inaugurated after a three-year delay, had run into controversy during the inauguration ceremony on August 1 when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray instructed the civic chief to look into the surface of the flyover. This was followed by an accident wherein a pick-up van turned turtle, within 48 hours of inauguration. This was followed by a number of accidents and skidding. On August 30, a bike skidded on the flyover, killing a 34-year-old Shivaji Nagar resident.
The spate of accidents led to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) taking up resurfacing work on both lanes of GMLR.

The bridge was kept closed for a week for road milling and setting up more rumblers, CCTV cameras, and signages of speed limit. The flyover was reopened for traffic on September 2 with a ban on bike movement till October 1.

Since inauguration, the flyover has reported 30 incidents of accidents and bike skidding. But in the past one month, there has not been a single accident.

"The bike ban and other measures taken by BMC have really worked. GMLR is safe now. In fact, it has improved so much that we are now able to give passes for VIP movement on the flyover," said Baliram Dhas, police inspector and in-charge of Mankhurd Traffic division. "The traffic department is now thinking of continuing the bike ban, just like JJ flyover and Eastern Freeway," he added.

"As the ban ends, we have observed that there has not been a single accident. There are two primary reasons behind it - resurfacing done by BMC and bike ban,"
a traffic officer said, requesting anonymity.

"The surface of the flyover was bad, but rash driving of bikers added to it, resulting in accidents," he added.

In addition to the bike ban, police personnel have also put up signages on both sides of the flyover and enforcement has been deployed to take action on bikers violating the ban. "Despite the ban, many bikers still take the road. We issue challan for the same. We have taken action against 378 bikers who have violated the order in the past 30 days. We will continue taking action as it has reduced complaints about rash driving," said another officer.

"Bike ban on the flyover

will be a win-win situation as it will make the flyover safe for motorists, and bikers can travel below the flyover, which now has less traffic," said Savlaram Agavane, senior inspector, Deonar police station.

30
No. of accidents on GMLR flyover since inauguration