Residents Perform ‘Dashakriya Vidhi’ Protest Near Navale Bridge; Threaten Highway Blockade Over Lack of Safety Measures
Residents Perform ‘Dashakriya Vidhi’ Protest Near Navale Bridge; Threaten Highway Blockade Over Lack of Safety Measures
Grief and anger blended on the Mumbai–Bengaluru highway on Saturday as residents living near Pune’s Navale Bridge performed Dashakriya Vidhi—a ritual traditionally held for the deceased—to symbolically mourn the lives lost on the accident-ridden stretch. The community warned that they would block the highway if authorities fail to implement meaningful safety improvements within the next 15 days.
Locals stressed that the area has become synonymous with tragedy. One resident explained that “the Navale Bridge section has turned into one of Maharashtra’s most dangerous accident zones—third across the state and the worst in Pune. Close to a hundred lives have been lost here, yet officials act as though the recurring fatalities are invisible.”
Their primary demand is the construction of an elevated road to reduce the risks on the problematic portion. Protester Nikhil Davhale emphasized that “the downhill run from the New Katraj tunnel to the bridge is too steep. It’s causing brake failures and leading to catastrophic crashes. The current gradient is about four percent and needs to be reduced.” He added that the ritual protest was held right beside spots where many of the accidents have taken place.
The outrage follows the devastating November 13 incident in which eight people were killed after a container truck collided with multiple vehicles near the bridge. Among the dead were five individuals travelling in a car that burst into flames after impact.
Residents had held a protest immediately after the crash, but frustration over limited action pushed them to mobilize again. One protester noted that “this is our second demonstration. If officials still don’t take strong steps, we will have no option but to halt highway traffic.” The demonstration drew several local activists, including Bhupendra More, Rajendra Jadhav, Latif Shaikh, and Harish Vaidya.
Responding to the rising tension, Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant stated on Friday evening that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would soon visit the site for an on-ground assessment. Samant acknowledged multiple issues, remarking that “accidents in the Navale Bridge area are happening because of vehicle overspeeding, flaws in the road design, and the steep descent. More manpower is needed here, along with a brake-testing zone and clearer signage.”
He assured residents that the state government is working toward a lasting fix. “The steep gradient is at the heart of the problem,” Samant said. “Our government is committed to delivering a permanent solution. Immediate safety improvements will be rolled out first, followed by long-term measures.”
