The tragic Kurla bus accident has sparked a fierce debate about urban planning, congestion, and governmental neglect. While preliminary investigations attribute the accident to the driver fault, transport expert Jitendra Gupta, founder member of the Citizen Transport Committee (CTC), has raised pressing concerns about the infrastructural and systemic failures that contributed to this tragedy.
Decades-Old Development Plans Stalled
Gupta highlighted that the proposed Development Plan (DP) to widen S.G. Barve Marg and create a direct connection between Kurla station and the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) through Yadav Mandi has remained unimplemented for over 40 years. “This bottleneck, exactly where the accident occurred, is a glaring reminder of the failure to address congestion despite repeated warnings,” said Gupta.
According to Gupta, the delay in implementing these plans has been exacerbated by vote-bank politics and lack of accountability among local corporators, MLAs, and MPs. Encroachments, roadside slums, and hawkers continue to occupy vital road space, creating dangerous congestion.
Gupta raised several questions, including why hasn’t the DP plan for road widening been implemented for over four decades? Why has the shortest route between Kurla station and BKC not been developed to reduce congestion? Why do roadside slums and hawkers persist, particularly near the accident site? Why does S.G. Barve Marg still lack a road divider and proper footpaths, violating court orders?
He pointed out that the lack of footpaths and road dividers directly contributes to pedestrian fatalities. “If there were proper footpaths, some of these deaths could have been avoided,” he stated.
Authorities Under Scrutiny
The accident took place near the L Ward office of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), intensifying criticism of the administration’s inaction. Gupta noted that despite sitting at the epicenter of these issues, the BMC and its ward officers have failed to clear encroachments and ensure road safety.
Moreover, the redevelopment of Yadav Mandi, which could alleviate congestion caused by the vegetable market and hawkers, remains unaddressed.
A Looming Crisis
Gupta warned that the congestion issue is set to worsen with the upcoming Metro 2B station at Halav Pul, about 1.5 km from Kurla railway station. “This will multiply both pedestrian and vehicular traffic on S.G. Barve Marg, pushing the already strained infrastructure to a breaking point,” he cautioned.
Calls for Accountability and Action
In the late 1980s, Gupta had raised similar concerns with then-local corporator and CTC member Khamanchand Jain, who cited vote-bank politics as a major obstacle to implementing necessary changes. Gupta hopes this latest tragedy will serve as an eye-opener for authorities.
“Every accident becomes a moment for introspection, but what is needed is systemic change. Lives are being lost due to corruption, neglect, and dereliction of duty. How many more lives need to be sacrificed before action is taken?” he questioned.
