MUMBAI: A pothole repair drive on the Mira-Bhayandar Road turned hazardous on Saturday night after a biker slipped on freshly laid hot mastic asphalt and suffered burn injuries, triggering fresh questions over safety measures at Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) worksites.
The incident comes as the MMRDA has been facing sustained criticism over a series of accidents and alleged safety lapses at infrastructure projects across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
According to advocate and activist Krishna Gupta, the incident occurred on Saturday night when contractors appointed by the MMRDA were laying hot mastic asphalt to fill potholes that had emerged after torrential rain on the arterial Mira-Bhayandar Road.
Gupta alleged that the freshly laid hot asphalt was not barricaded, creating an oil slick that became even more hazardous because of the rain.
“Two to three bikers slipped due to the oil slick on the hot mastic asphalt, as the affected portion was not barricaded. At the same time, there was rainfall leading to dangerous conditions for motorists,” Gupta said. At least one biker suffered burn injuries on his arm after falling onto the hot mastic asphalt. Following the incident, the pothole-filling work was temporarily halted.
