Road crash deaths in Mumbai plunge 39% to 374 in 10 years

MUMBAI: Deaths in road-related crashes in Mumbai decreased by 39% in 10 years —from 611 in 2015 to 374 in 2025. However, there was a slight jump in fatalities as well as people injured in grievous crashes last year as compared to 2024.Data with Mumbai traffic police shows that 370 people lost their lives in fatal crashes in 2024. In the same year, 1,901 people were injured in grievous crashes. In 2025, this number jumped by 6% to 2,006 injured persons. Activists pointed out that prioritising pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is an immediate need, more so as the Metro network is expanding and several commuters are likely to walk down the last mile from the Metro station to their final destination. A major fatal crash reported last year was near Bhandup West railway station, where a BEST bus rammed into pedestrians, leaving four persons dead and injuring nine others, on Dec 29. One of the deceased was a woman. The crash occurred when the bus was reversing. "Pedestrians typically form a majority of road users impacted in road crashes. We have identified and mapped ‘black spots' where crashes occur repeatedly. The deadliest among these was Amar Mahal junction in the eastern suburbs. By joining hands with BMC, we made traffic engineering changes at this location and it has resulted in reduction in fatalities," said Anil Kumbhare, joint commissioner, traffic police. He said new black spot locations could crop up as infrastructure projects wrap up in the city. "Our personnel are constantly on the lookout for any dangerous crossings where there are gaps in the median. Details of any such location are shared with BMC and the gap is filled up," he said. In mid-2025, traffic police also began registering FIRs against drunk drivers to prevent resultant road crashes. Between April and Dec, 3,228 cognisable cases under provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act were registered. "Compared to 2015, Mumbai has seen a significant decline in road crash fatalities. However, pedestrian hardships, which also reflect in its share of fatalities, continue. As Mumbai undergoes a massive transition, this is the right moment to set a vision of zero road traffic fatalities and adopt a safe systems approach to achieve it," said Dhawal Ashar, a transport expert with non-profit WRI India.