A 42-year-old businessman from Kalyan in Maharashtra died after a car driven by an underage driver, a 17-year-old boy, hit his bike on a stretch of road under construction near the Ulhas river.
the The incident that occurred on Tuesday evening was captured on a CCTV camera and now the boy, possibly along with his family, is facing police action over the incident that has raised major questions about traffic enforcement and lack of cycling infrastructure in the fast-developing Kalyan-Dombivli district.
Who was Shrinivas Tandel?
Shrinivas Tandel lived in Khadakpada district Kalyan is in Thane district, about 50 km from Mumbai, and was a well-known figure in the local business community. He was associated with one of the oldest clothing stores in Kalyan and is said to have owned other such stores as well.
His family told HT that he bought the bike the day before the accident – a Monday – and Tuesday’s ride was probably his first as part of his new exercise routine to lose some weight.
What happened?
The accident occurred on the under-construction stretch of Kalyan Ring Road, a 30-km project being built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to ease traffic congestion across Kalyan, Dombivli and Titwala.
This stretch runs parallel to the Ulhas River, and was almost completed two years ago; But it has not been officially opened to traffic. According to HT, the stretch was closed to prevent entry of vehicles, but it was not clear who removed those barricades and allowed access to the road.
Locals told HT that the stretch has become notorious for bikers and motorists who drive rashly.
Shrinivas Tandel was riding his bike on this road when he was hit by a car, which was allegedly speeding. The force of the impact was intense. Police told HT that Tandel was thrown into the air several meters and died on the spot.
“My brother had recently gained weight and wanted to add cycling to his exercise routine in the evening. So he bought a bike on Monday and went cycling on Tuesday, when he was injured,” Tandel’s brother Ganesh said. He demanded strict action against the driver.
Who is the accused?
The driver of the car is a 17-year-old boy, who police have confirmed is a juvenile, so his name has not been released. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Atul Zende said the vehicle was traced and the driver identified.
There are reports that his mother, the registered owner of the car, may also be charged. His mother’s profession is not known, but his father is said to be a lawyer.
No arrests have been reported at the time of preparing this report.
What do family and locals say?
Former Corporal Rakesh Mutha, a close friend of the deceased, raised an obvious question: Who removed the barricades that were supposed to prevent vehicles from accessing the unfinished road? He called for an investigation into the role of civic officials, adding that the city’s lack of open public spaces such as parks and gardens is forcing residents to move to unsafe vacant spaces.
Dr Sunil Pontambikar, president of Dombivli Cycling Club, said the accident reflects the growing danger to cyclists across the region. “This area was once largely rural with green spaces and minimal vehicular traffic,” he said.
“Over the past five years, it has experienced rapid urbanization and population growth, which has led to a sharp increase in traffic without corresponding infrastructure modernization.” He advised cyclists to avoid cycling during peak hours and evenings.
