The tragic on-duty death of traffic constable Ganesh Atmaram Patil (34) near Mahape has sparked outrage over the growing threat posed by heavy vehicles on city roads.
The constable was reportedly hit by a recklessly driven Hydra crane, and succumbed to his injuries.
MNS Transport Wing Holds Authorities Responsible for Road Safety Lapses
In the wake of the incident, the Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena (MNS Transport Wing) has written to the Deputy Regional Transport Officer (RTO), holding authorities accountable for the lapses that continue to endanger lives.
MNS State General Secretary Nitin Harishchandra Khanvilkar, in the letter, pointed out that despite repeated complaints, the movement of dumpers, trailers, cranes, and trucks continues unchecked across Navi Mumbai, often in violation of basic road safety norms.
Concerns Raised Over Unlicensed, Underage, and Intoxicated Drivers
The letter highlighted that many of these vehicles are overloaded, frequently violate lane discipline, and are driven at excessive speeds. Concerns were raised about the qualifications of the drivers, claiming that several operate without proper training, background verification, or licenses. Alarmingly, instances of underage driving, intoxication, and non-local drivers without identification was also mentioned.
The association further alleged that many of these vehicles are parked illegally along arterial city roads, creating traffic bottlenecks and posing a hazard to daily commuters.
The party representative condemned the apathy of enforcement agencies and questioned the state of road safety in Navi Mumbai. “If a uniformed police officer can lose his life due to such negligence, what safety do ordinary citizens have?” asked the general secretary, demanding immediate intervention from the RTO and city authorities.
Call for Stringent Action, Surveillance and Regular Joint Inspections
He urged the Regional Transport Office to initiate stringent checks on heavy vehicles, enforce penalties on violations, and launch regular drives to prevent illegal parking. The MNS also called for the installation of surveillance cameras at key locations to monitor heavy vehicle movement, as well as routine joint inspections involving traffic police and RTO officials.
