Streetlights are not functioning at several stretches of the Uran JNPT Highway and the JNPA–Amra Marg corridor in Navi Mumbai, raising road-safety concerns as monsoon conditions approach and thousands of heavy vehicles continue to use the routes, according to a report by Loksatta – Navi Mumbai.
The affected locations on the JNPT–Palaspe route include Dronagiri, Dhatum, Karal, the Jasai flyover and Gavan Phata. The report said that several streetlights on both the main carriageway and service roads remain switched off, leaving parts of the national highway in darkness.
The corridor connects JNPA and Uran with Navi Mumbai, Panvel and Pune. It carries heavy container traffic linked to the port as well as passenger vehicles. With the road designed for relatively fast movement, the absence of lighting can make it more difficult for drivers to identify stationary vehicles, road damage and other obstructions, the report said.
The safety concern is compounded by the practice of parking heavy container vehicles at several locations along the main and service roads. According to the report, these vehicles are being left without adequate warning devices to alert approaching motorists. In darkness, the presence of parked containers could increase the risk of collisions, particularly for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles.
The report also referred to mud and potholes at multiple points on the route. It said that accidents had occurred on the highway recently and that two-wheeler crashes had increased. The approaching rains could further affect visibility and road conditions, while standing water, mud and damaged surfaces may make it harder for vehicles to maintain control.
The highway’s role in the port and regional transport network makes the lighting problem more than a local inconvenience. The route is used by freight vehicles moving between JNPA and inland destinations, while residents and workers depend on it for travel between Uran, Navi Mumbai and Panvel. A failure of basic roadside infrastructure therefore affects both everyday mobility and the movement of goods.
Uran municipal president Bhavana Ghanekar has reportedly met officials of the National Highways Authority of India and sought the restoration of streetlights on the national highway connecting Uran. Drivers and residents have also demanded that the authority repair the lights and take measures to warn motorists about heavy vehicles parked along the route.
The report did not include a response from the National Highways Authority of India on the timeline for repairing the lights, removing or regulating the parked containers, or addressing the potholes and muddy sections. The immediate demands from local representatives, motorists and residents are for the streetlights to be restored and safety measures to be installed before the monsoon intensifies.
