Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, received a letter from the Bombay Parsi Punchayat (BPP) detailing complaints over the terrible condition of the National Highway (NH48). The highway
connects Dahisar and Talasari. In a letter issued to the ministry, the BPP brought to Gadkari’s notice the poor state of the NH48 and the public inconvenience it continues to cause.
The angered community has demanded immediate course corrections on the highway, which is the only active road connecting people to the pilgrimage site of Udvada. Located in south Gujarat, Udvada is host to the community’s most important fire temple, the Iranshah.
“NH-48 Dahisar to Talasari has become a death trap and our community members and senior citizens suffer untold hardships due to poor construction done by NHAI-appointed contractors…All we ask are for our fundamental rights to good roads so that precious lives are not lost,” wrote BPP in the letter.
BPP Trustee On NH48
Speaking to the Times of India, BPP trustee Adil Malia confirmed there is anger brewing within the normally reticent community about the pathetic conditions of the highway after it lost industrialist Cyrus Mistry. One of BPP’s esteemed members, Mistry, died following a tragic accident on that road amidst poor conditions and unregulated traffic.
“The community has no alternative but to travel on NH48 and the route between Dahisar and Talasari is literally a ‘Death Trap’. Several near-fatal and serious accidents have been reported,” Malia said.
Filly Bapuna, who helps raise funds for BPP, emphasised, “Driving on the NH-48 is a harrowing experience. It was cemented a few months ago, but there are already potholes everywhere. A new Range Rover had a tyre burst twice on this stretch.”
Accidents Occur On NH48 Despite Rs 600 Crore Investment
According to highway activist Harbans Singh Nanade, traffic jams and accidents on the NH48 are a common occurrence. The situation is horrible despite the repair spending worth Rs 600 crore made by the authorities in the last few years.
“This has raised questions about the functioning of NHAI and the contractor. The BRO (Border Roads Organisation) is also primarily responsible for constructing and maintaining roads in border areas and difficult mountainous regions. Without wasting time, the services of BRO should be used for NH48 and Thane-Ghodbunder road for safe travel,” Nanade told TOI.
“Though potholes are there, the main reason was the traffic on the Thane-bound lane on the Thane-Ghodbunder road. We are laying mastic on old bridges, said the officer when questioned about potholes on NH48,” said a senior official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The official cited the traffic flow on the Thane-Ghodbunder road as one reason for the inconveniences experienced on NH48, which requires immediate attention from the government authorities.
