Thane: ‘Helmetless’ biker skids, dies on new bridge

THANE/MUMBAI: A 22-year-old biker from Wagle Estate was the first casualty on the newly inaugurated flyover near Castle Mill in Thane early on Monday. Jitendra Dhotre, who is believed to have been speeding, apparently lost control, was thrown off his bike and hit a concrete surface.

His friend, Prakash Chalke, who was riding pillion with him, skidded on the empty road and is under treatment for severe injuries and a fracture.

The flyover, thrown open 24 hours earlier, was unused and the possibility of loose gravel or construction material on the stretch could prove fatal to rash bikers. Police said Dhotre may have suddenly applied brakes and as the road surface is new the tyres may have failed to take a grip.

A resident of Ramchandra Nagar in Wagle Estate, Dhotre was heading from Majiwada to Khopat. “Dhotre was speeding and allegedly lost control of the vehicle and fell. Chalke also fell and suffered leg injuries. Dhotre had suffered grievous head injuries as he was not wearing a helmet. The duo was taken to Civil hospital, when Dhotre was declared dead on arrival,” said an official of Rabodi police station.

Traffic police have repeatedly instructed motorists not to drive rashly or speed if a lane is free. “Youth have a tendency to drive rashly and speed when roads are free of traffic. They should slow down at turns as they can lose control. Also, bikers must wear helmets or it could be fatal,” said inspector (traffic) Sudhir Khairnar.

Interestingly, MSRDC and traffic police had installed six rubber speed arresters (speed-breakers) on JJ flyover in 2010 as it had turned into an “accident-prone zone”. A 2cm layer of yellow thermoplastic road marking paint was also applied. MSRDC had plans to put up three-four feet parabolic walls and layers of cat’s eyes to control speeding on the stretch.

Between 2001 (when the bridge was inaugurated) and 2010, 33 people died on the flyover, which has five dangerous curves. Of these, 31 were on motorcycles. In 2010, motorcyclists were banned but they continue to ride when police are not around. Last year, traffic police revised speed limits on the flyover to 30-50kmph. Automatic number plate recognition cameras were installed in 2018 and e-challans are generated to vehicles crossing the speed limit.