Mumbai-Goa Highway Contractors Charged With Culpable Homicide After 170 Accidents, 97 Deaths, And 208 Injuries

In a significant move, the Raigad police on Thursday charged contractors responsible for road-widening work on the Mumbai-Goa highway with culpable homicide. This development follows an alarming record of 170 accidents, 97 deaths, and 208 injuries attributed to the substandard quality of road construction on a 26.7-kilometre stretch between Indapur and Vadpadle in Mangaon since 2020.

Contractors Under Scrutiny

The contractors in question, Chetak Enterprises and APCO Infrastructure were initially awarded the project to widen the national highway in May 2017. Despite the contract stipulating a completion deadline within two years, the work remains incomplete, and the quality of what has been done has come under severe criticism.

The police have registered a case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), among other charges, against several senior executives of the contracting firms. The officials named in the case include Hukimichand Jain, Avdesh Kumar Singh, and Sujit Sadanand Kavale, with Kavale already under arrest.

Government Response

The police action comes just days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed the Raigad Superintendent of Police to file criminal charges against the contractors. CM Shinde's directive followed his review of the pending work on the highway, particularly in light of the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a time when road safety becomes even more critical.

"The condition of the road is dire, with numerous potholes and sections dug up and left unattended without any safety measures," said Assistant Police Inspector Nivrutti Borhade in Hindustan Times (HT). "Commuting on this stretch is hazardous for motorists."

Incomplete And Poor-Quality Work

An official from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) revealed in HT that despite repeated show-cause notices, the contractor had completed only 4.6 per cent of the work per month instead of the expected 10 per cent. The quality of the work completed has been deemed inadequate, with vital safety features such as thermoplastic paints, cat-eye blinkers, and signboards still pending.

A non-confirmation report filed by an engineer appointed by the central government highlighted these deficiencies, but it did not lead to any improvements in the construction.

Tragic Consequences

The dangerous road conditions have had fatal consequences. On August 17, Sonali Bhise, a 29-year-old resident of Mahad, lost her life in a tragic accident while travelling along the highway. The collision occurred due to the driver of a tempo losing control of the vehicle on the rough road.

In a similar incident in December 2018, Nishikant Talekar, a 28-year-old motorcyclist, died when a truck swerved to avoid a pothole and struck him. His brother, Ninad Talekar, expressed relief at the government's decision to take legal action, stating in HT, "It's high time something is done. Ordinary people can't even walk safely on the highway."

Alarming Statistics

Statistics presented in court have revealed the devastating impact of the poor road conditions. Between January 2010 and April 2021, approximately 2,442 residents of the Konkan region lost their lives in accidents on this highway, with many others left permanently disabled.

The recent action taken by the Raigad police represents a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issues plaguing the Mumbai-Goa highway and ensuring accountability for the lives lost due to the substandard work.