Mumbai: A road accident on the Sion flyover, which claimed the life of a 36-year-old man, sparked public outrage over road safety measures. The victim, Suhail Shakeel Ansari, was the vice president of the Nationalist Youth Congress (Ajit Pawar faction).
Local residents are now demanding converting the flyover into a one-way route or installing a central concrete divider to prevent such accidents. The accident happened when a speeding car crossed lanes and collided head-on with the two-wheeler Ansari was riding on Sunday morning.
About The Incident
The incident led local residents to demand immediate road safety measures. According to the police, the victim, a resident of LIG Colony, Kurla (West), was returning from Marine Lines with his friend Abu Faizan Ehsanul Haq Ansari, 34, on a Jupiter two-wheeler. While riding along Sion flyover towards Chembur, a Swift Dzire coming from the opposite direction allegedly crossed the lane at high speed and rammed into their vehicle.
Both Suhail and Abu Faizan were flung onto the road due to the impact and sustained serious injuries. Suhail suffered severe facial injuries and was rendered unconscious on the spot, while Abu Faizan suffered injuries in his legs. The Sion police transported the victims to Sion Hospital, where Suhail was declared dead before admission. Abu Faizan was later moved to Kohinoor Hospital in Kurla for further treatment.
The driver of the car, identified as 75-year-old Chandulal Virchand Jain, a resident of Byculla, has been booked under sections 106(1) (causing death by negligence), 125 (b) (endangering life or personal safety of others), and 281 (rash or negligent driving) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with section 184 (dangerous driving) of the Motor Vehicles Act. He was issued a notice and released, with further investigation ongoing.
Residents claim the Sion flyover lacks a proper median divider, making it easy for reckless drivers to cross lanes illegally. Although plastic barriers are placed at both ends of the bridge, they are not effective in preventing lane violations. According to the police, the elderly driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle when he crossed into the opposite lane, causing the fatal crash.
“This flyover has become a ‘Bridge of Death’,” said local social worker Mansoor Shaikh from Kurla. “Drivers frequently cross into oncoming lanes due to the absence of dividers. We demand that traffic coming from Thane be redirected below the bridge, or the flyover should be converted into a one-way route. Concrete dividers must be installed immediately to prevent further loss of life,” Shaikh added.
Following the public outcry, residents have submitted a formal letter of demand to the traffic police. Authorities have acknowledged the issue and confirmed that discussions with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are underway to explore viable safety solutions.
