The Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Maharashtra’s Thane district has awarded Rs 22.37 lakh as compensation to the family of a man who was killed in a road accident involving a car driven by a police constable.
According to the news agency PTI, MACT member R.V. Mohite found that the accident occurred due to the rash and negligent driving of the car owner. The tribunal directed the insurer, Future Generali India Insurance Co. Ltd., to pay the full compensation amount and subsequently recover the entire sum from the car owner.
A copy of the order, passed on September 19, was made available on Friday.
As per the PTI, the victim, Ramesh Kamlakar More (52), who worked as a cleaner in a private company, was walking on the left side of the road near Gram Vikas Chowk on June 21, 2021, when he was hit by a car. He succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The tribunal noted a breach of the insurance policy terms by the vehicle owner, who did not possess a valid and effective driving licence at the time of the accident.
The investigation, which included CCTV footage, revealed that the offending vehicle initially fled the scene but later returned, and the driver transported the injured man to the hospital, as per PTI.
Kharghar police had filed a chargesheet against the driver under several sections, including Section 304(A) (causing death by negligence) of the IPC, and Sections 3(1)/181 (driving without a licence) of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The victim’s family had filed a claim of Rs 46.70 lakh, but the tribunal determined the final compensation based on the deceased`s proven income and relevant legal guidelines.
The tribunal awarded Rs 22.37 lakh as compensation, to be paid with an interest rate of 9 per cent per annum, from the date of the petition until the date the amount is deposited.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway turns death trap amid rising accidents
For commuters, truck drivers, and locals, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway (NH-48) has become synonymous with constant fear due to potholes, broken medians, poor lighting, and incomplete repairs. On the Talasari-Dahisar stretch, 238 accidents have claimed 131 lives this year, a grim reminder that piecemeal measures and temporary traffic restrictions cannot address the deeper, structural failings of the road.
Despite a massive white-topping project, locals say the highway’s condition has barely improved. “The so-called repairs have made no difference — fatal accidents have actually increased, and traffic flow has worsened. Contractors face no real liability, and NHAI [National Highways Authority of India] has failed to repair the road. Ambulances, schoolchildren, and workers continue to suffer every day,” said Harbans Singh Nanade, spokesperson of the All India Vehicle Owners & Drivers Federation.
NHAI, however, maintains that the work is progressing steadily. “So far, 99 per cent of the white-topping has been completed,” said Suhas Chitnis, project director, NHAI. He denied claims that the repairs have worsened road safety. “The work and traffic were ongoing simultaneously. While the quality could have been better, the overall road condition is not bad. There are a few potholes, and the three highway outlets are in poor shape, forcing traffic onto this stretch as there are no alternate routes.”
(With PTI inputs)
