Wake up BMC. Make Pedestrians Safe!

Encouraged by the support given to us by the metro rail authorities (MMRDA/ DMRC), we decided to approach the ‘P’ South ward, Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Dhonde. Till this time, we were approaching BMC only through the change.org platform and twitter or through local channels like the traffic police department. Unlike MMRDA, who responded to us on Change.org, we have not received any response from BMC. So, on 7th February, my brother Gitesh Karnik and I visited the BMC office in Goregaon to convey our concerns. At the onset, we were asked to visit after the BMC elections were over. My question is, are bad accidents due to unsafe roads going to occur after the elections? Road safety and elections are two independent issues and safety cannot be compromised till elections are over. We refused to leave and were told that the wait could last for a couple of hours. During this time, Mr. Rajan Padhye, the Shiv Sena Corporator from P – South Ward happened to visit the Assistant Commissioner’s office. Being aware of our mother's fatal accident, he immediately took us to meet Mr. Dhonde. We are grateful to Mr.Rajan Padhye; if not for him, we may have ended waiting for hours to hand the petition to Mr. Dhonde . On 15th January 2017, we lost our mother Mrs. Snehala Karnik in a tragic hit and run accident. The fatal accident occurred on a Sunday morning at the junction of Inorbit Mall, Malad. Our mother was hit by a speeding water tanker while crossing road at the zebra crossing. Our family has been devastated by this accident. So, that others don’t suffer as we did, in the interest of safety of other pedestrians, we have requested BMC, a few urgent measures to be effected immediately: 1. Installing Speed breakers: a. Install a speed breaker immediately on the GMLR Rd. before the traffic signal of Inorbit Mall b. Install a speed breaker immediately on the GMLR Rd. before the Rustomjee junction traffic signal Huge water tankers and BMC dumpers ply at a full speed on this road during off-peak hours which is very risky for pedestrians. The speed breakers will force them to slow down. 2. Repainting Road Lines: a. Zebra Lines – The zebra lines at the traffic signals are barely visible and most of the times cars come and stand over it b. Stop Lines – There are no stop lines to indicate that the cars should stop before the zebra crossing at the traffic signal Dark and visible zebra lines and stop line before the zebra crossing will indicate to the drivers to stop before and not on the Zebra lines. It will also enable the traffic police to enforce traffic rules strictly. 3. Fixing non-functional CCTV cameras: Ensure that CCTV cameras at all the major residential and busy junctions like the Inorbit mall are functioning. 4. Clear foot-paths for pedestrian walking: The foot-path, especially from the Rustomjee to the Inorbit mall junction are encroached by shop keepers and garages unlawfully parking vehicles, leaving no space for pedestrians to walk. 5. Smoothly paved roads: The roads are repaired in bits and pieces leaving them uneven, patchy and rough. Pedestrians losing a step or balance may lead to injury. 6. Tightening of pothole coverings: The loose pot hole coverings are hazardous not only for pedestrians but also for cars driving over it. A loose covering may hit somebody causing grievous injury. 7. Enforcing speed limits of 40 Kms in residential area for all water tankers, trucks and BMC dumpers 8. Putting traffic signage on the roads indicating speed limits and cautioning drivers of reducing speed due to the presence of schools and malls in the vicinity 9. Making traffic islands to enable safe crossing for pedestrians across wider roads (right now all traffic islands have been replaced with memorials) Mr. Dhonde promised taking care of the speed breakers and repainting the road lines on priority basis. However, he did not comment on the fixing the CCTV cameras, clearing the footpaths, removing unlawfully parked vehicles, smoothing the roads for safe walking or enforcing speed limits. We are grateful for his assurance of immediately installing speed breakers and repainting the roadlines but should we wait for fatal accidents to happen for BMC to wake up and act? Are they blind to foot-path encroachments and faded zebra lines? Are they stupid to not realize that beautification cannot be at the cost of public safety? Inorbit Mall junction has 3 beautification islands; the zebra lines end at these beautification with no place for people to stand while crossing roads? Do they not realize the importance of a functional CCTV camera at busy junctions like the Inorbit Mall? Is it not their responsibility to ensure smooth, paved roads? Maybe, our mother’s accident and many other casualties that happened earlier could have been prevented if there were proper speed regulations in place and speed breakers installed in this residential area to control speeding by reckless drivers. And most importantly, if the CCTV cameras were working, the guilty would have been caught and brought to justice. Will the BMC wake up and take note of pedestrian’s woes please?