Mumbai Roads See Sharp Rise In Accident-Prone Black Spot Zones
The number of officially recognised accident-prone black spots across Mumbai has more than doubled in the past two years, rising from 20 to 48. Despite the expansion of flyovers and new road networks aimed at easing traffic congestion, many junctions and corridors remain perilous, especially for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Civic officials have acknowledged the surge and announced a joint plan with the traffic police to implement long-overdue road safety measures at each of these high-risk locations.
Mumbai’s expanding urban footprint and rising vehicular volume have made road safety a pressing issue, particularly in zones where planning, maintenance, and enforcement have failed to keep pace. The municipal corporation, along with the city’s traffic police, intends to overhaul the 48 identified black spots by appointing contractors through public tenders. The plan includes redesigning junctions and implementing safety infrastructure such as signage, pedestrian crossings, and barriers. Experts believe that two-wheelers and pedestrians bear the brunt of poor design and neglected road safety, often paying with their lives in preventable accidents. A key hurdle in addressing this crisis has been the persistent lack of coordination between the city’s traffic enforcement authorities, municipal engineers, and regional transport offices. While each agency shares responsibility, the absence of a dedicated road safety authority has led to inaction.
Civic officials admit that despite earlier identification of accident-prone zones, safety plans had largely remained on paper. International urban planners, recently invited to assess Mumbai’s road network, have also flagged these concerns, reinforcing the need for integrated, city-level safety management. According to the Ministry of Road Transport’s definition, a black spot is any 500-metre road stretch witnessing five serious accidents or more than ten fatalities over three consecutive years. The alarming rise in such zones signals a need for immediate systemic reform. In 2023 alone, traffic audits conducted by Indian and global safety experts found fatalities and injuries concentrated around poorly lit junctions, missing dividers, and unregulated crossings. The upcoming intervention plans must be grounded in data, inclusive urban design, and continuous community feedback.
Reducing fatalities on Mumbai roads is not merely a matter of enforcement—it demands institutional accountability and human-centred infrastructure planning. As India’s financial capital evolves into a smart, sustainable city, safety for all road users must become central to its mobility agenda. Introducing a state-level road safety commissioner, as proposed by urban experts, could accelerate reforms and ensure the voices of vulnerable commuters are prioritised.
