After this paper highlighted the death of an 18-year-old girl and exposed several slippery stretches across main roads, grippy concrete slabs have replaced slippery metal sheet covers
MMRDA fixes the stretch on SCLR, Kurla West, where an 18-yr-old died, as seen on Monday. Pic/Satej Shinde
The authorities have properly levelled some roads and fixed manholes after mid-day reported about the death of an 18-year-old woman pillion rider after the bike slipped on an iron sheet on the SCLR at Kapadia Nagar, Kurla. The following day, this paper conducted a survey across the city and found many such spots that were deadly for bikers.
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The spot pictured on November 14. File pic
Following the mid-day reports, the authorities finally woke up and fixed the stretch of the Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) near Kapadia Nagar in Kurla West, where the 18-year-old woman had died. The MMRDA removed the iron sheet and changed the manhole cover, and also levelled the road. A similar spot was found on the Western Express Highway (WEH), during this paper’s survey on November 15. A huge sheet of metal was loosely placed on one half of the road. On Monday, mid-day found the sheet gone. Iron sheets and improperly manhole covers were found temporarily fitted on roads at various places in the city, like SV Road and Link road. Motorcyclists had complained of the dangers the sheets, which were placed instead of fixing the road, pose to them.
‘Irreparable loss’
Anju Vidyanand Sahu, a resident of Kalina, was crushed under a dumper truck after the bike she was riding pillion on slipped, on November 12. His brother Vikas, 20, who was riding the bike, survived. Speaking to mid-day on Monday, Vikas said, “On the day of the accident, there was a plain iron sheet on the road, but later on, it was replaced with one that had grips. The authorities responsible cheated the police to save themselves.”
An improperly fitted iron sheet is seen on the WEH, in Goregaon East, on Nov 15. File pic
“One blunder by the authorities cost us huge. Ours is an irreparable loss. They might have tried to mend their mistakes by taking deadly iron sheets off the city roads, but my sister will never come back. Now, at least, the lives of many others would be saved.” “The department, which had ordered iron sheets to be placed on roads to conceal its dilapidated conditions, must be severely punished. We demand justice for my sister,” Vikas added.mid-day tried to contact the MMRDA commissioner, but he was unavailable. This newspaper had also reported about the sheet on the road near Haji Ali, but it has not been removed yet.
Motorcyclists relieved
Viraj Ghanekar, a motorcyclist, said, “It is really good that the authorities woke up after a series of mid-day reports, as it was really heart wrenching to know that the woman died because the bike skidded on the deadly iron sheet.”
mid-day found the sheet gone and road fixed on Monday. Pic/Satej Shinde
Another motorcyclist, Pratik Kedar, said, “Why the authorities need to be poked to work diligently. It is good to know that the deadly iron sheets have been removed from a few places after mid-day reports, but we should also demand that the responsible department is severely punished for placing those metal sheets on roads.”
Naresh Gaddam said, “I have been riding my motorcycle to the office every day. After the fatal accident due to a deadly iron sheet, my parents suggested that I not go to the office on bike, fearing for my life. So I have given up riding and taking the bus or train, but it is time consuming.”
Some sceptical
Lalit Jayakar, another motorcyclist, asked, “Have the roads where iron sheets were placed to hide the potholes been repaired properly, or will a minor shower expose the authorities’ work? I hope it does not cave in when heavy vehicles cross over the spot where cosmetic work has been done to hide the potholes.”
Since the fatal accident of Sahu, mid-day has been trying to find out which department or official ordered placing of iron sheets on city roads, but the MMRDA chief spokesperson is not willing to reveal the details. The spokesperson keeps reiterating, “We have to find out with our team members.” “We will look into this matter and take precautions so that such incidents are not repeated,” Eknath Shinde, minister of Urban Development and Public Works.
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