Mumbai-Goa Highway contractor faces charges for dangerous work

In Navi Mumbai, the Raigad police have filed criminal charges against a contractor for substandard work on the Mumbai-Goa highway, following a directive from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The case was registered after a complaint from the National Highway Authority, citing culpable homicide due to the dangerous conditions created by the contractor's negligence. The contractor, Chetak Enterprises, was responsible for road widening and repair work over a 26.7 km stretch, which has been linked to numerous accidents. The project, which began in December 2017, was expected to be completed within two years. However, the contractor failed to meet the required progress, completing only 4.6% of the work instead of the expected 10% monthly. This led to multiple show cause notices from the Highway Authority. The lack of essential safety features, such as thermoplastic paints, signboards, and cat eye blinkers, has raised serious concerns about public safety. Since 2020, the highway has seen over 170 motor accidents, resulting in 97 fatalities and numerous injuries. The poor quality of work has sparked outrage among political parties and the public, prompting the state government to take action against the responsible parties. The police have arrested Project Engineer Sujit Sadanand Kawale, while the Director and General Manager of the contractor company are also facing charges. This situation highlights the critical need for accountability in infrastructure projects, especially those that directly impact public safety. The ongoing investigations and legal actions aim to ensure that such negligence does not occur in the future, protecting the lives of commuters on this vital route.