RTO cracks down on kaali peeli taxis after fatal Kalyan- Murbad crash

Kalyan: A day after the fatal road accident on National Highway 61 that killed 11 people on the Rayta bridge, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has initiated action against ‘kaali-peeli' taxis operating on the Kalyan–Murbad route.According to officials, action was taken against six taxis out of around 108 operating on the stretch for violating passenger limits. Anticipating enforcement, a majority of taxi operators kept their vehicles off the road on Wednesday, causing inconvenience to commuters. Many passengers were seen shifting to MSRTC buses, prompting the state transport body to introduce an additional bus service on the route to manage the surge.Deputy RTO Ashutosh Barkul said that strict instructions have been issued against overloading. "We have taken action against six taxis found carrying more than the permitted five passengers plus driver. Strict orders have been given that any violation will invite action," he said.Preliminary findings by the RTO indicate that the accident was caused by the taxi driver's negligence. "The driver was speeding and attempted to overtake, following which the vehicle collided head-on with a ready-mix concrete truck coming from the opposite direction," Barkul added. The report has been submitted to the transport department.The RTO has also appealed to commuters to avoid boarding overloaded taxis, stressing that passenger awareness is crucial to prevent such incidents.The Kalyan–Murbad route remains a vital road link for commuters travelling to Murbad taluka in Thane district, with limited alternatives apart from MSRTC buses and private vehicles. Ongoing road-widening work has resulted in uneven stretches, where incomplete patches force slow movement, while finished sections often see vehicles speeding.Officials suspect that a similar pattern may have contributed to the Rayta bridge accident, where traffic is currently restricted to two lanes of a four-lane structure, creating a sudden transition from bad road conditions to a smoother flyover, often leading to overspeeding and loss of control.