Silt spill on Sion-Panvel Highway: FIR filed

Navi Mumbai: Following the incident of a large quantity of silt from Mumbai's desilting works accidentally spilled on the Sion-Panvel highway on the north boundary carriageway near Vashi toll plaza that disrupted the traffic for three hours on Saturday, around 5.30 am, acting on a complaint by the PWD (Public Works Department), an FIR was registered at Vashi police station on Saturday.

While the PWD representative lodged a complaint seeking to register an FIR against the concerned BMC contractor, the dumper driver, and others concerned, the Vashi police have registered an FIR against unidentified accused under relevant BNS sections for the offence of act endangering life or personal safety of others and joint criminal liability.

According to PWD, at least three to four vehicles reportedly skidded on the slippery stretch, leading to traffic disruption. However, no injuries were reported.

The police complaint submitted by the PWD representative had described the incident as an "extremely careless and illegal act" that endangered public safety and put the lives of motorists at risk. It further claimed that it calls for the liability of the dumper driver, vehicle owner, contractor, subcontractor, desilting agency, and responsible officials to be determined.

The PWD complaint had further sought action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Bombay Highways Act, 1955, for negligent and dangerous driving, creating a public nuisance, obstructing traffic, and dumping material on a highway without permission. Also, the incident violates safety standards prescribed by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which classify the spillage of slippery material on roads as a serious safety hazard.