Chakan Turns Deadly as Pune-Nashik Highway and Talegaon-Shikrapur Road Record 70+ Fatal Accidents in 2024

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Chakan, 25th January 2025: On 16th January, all of Maharashtra was shocked when a container went rogue on Chakan-Shikrapur Road, colliding with over 10 vehicles before being stopped. This accident seriously injured a 7-year-old girl, who fought for her life before succumbing to her injuries. However, tragedies are not limited to this incident. The Chakan area in Pune District has become a hotspot for accidental deaths, with over 70 fatalities recorded last year.

Two major roads in the vicinity of Chakan are the Talegaon-Shikrapur Road and the Pune-Nashik Highway. In 2024, almost 200 accidents occurred here, 73 of which were fatal. These accidents occurred within the jurisdiction of Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate’s (PCPC) Chakan and Mahalunge MIDC Police Stations. The numbers rise further when considering the Pune Rural and Nashik Police jurisdictions. This area has become a hotspot due to the presence of industries, with many people travelling here alongside large vehicles used for industrial transportation.

On the Pune-Nashik Highway, 34 deaths occurred within the PCPC limits, while 39 fatal accidents happened on the Talegaon-Shikrapur Road. A total of 79 serious injuries were reported on both roads. The Pimpri Chinchwad Police have made significant efforts to prevent accidents.

Recent accidents on the Talegaon-Shikrapur Road and Pune-Nashik Highway have highlighted several safety concerns. Here are six key reasons why accidents continue to occur on these routes:

– Increased traffic volume: Both roads have seen a significant rise in local and heavy vehicle traffic, leading to congestion and heightened accident risks.
– Insufficient infrastructure: The existing lanes are inadequate to handle the growing traffic, particularly on the Talegaon-Shikrapur stretch.
– Delayed safety measures: The implementation of crucial safety measures and infrastructure projects, such as the Talegaon-Shikrapur elevated corridor, has been delayed due to bureaucratic issues.
– Reckless driving: Incidents of speeding and drunk driving have been reported, as evidenced by the recent container truck accident on the Chakan-Shikrapur Road.
– Dangerous road conditions: The presence of stationary vehicles on roadsides, as seen on the Nashik-Pune Highway, creates hazardous situations for moving traffic.
– Lack of immediate action: Despite repeated accidents and appeals from local representatives, there has been a delay in implementing urgent safety measures on these roads.

Along with the container truck case earlier this year, on 1st January 2025, Police Sub-Inspector Jitendra Girnar tragically died in a car crash with a container near Mahindra Company. Girnar was serving at the Mahalunge MIDC Police Station.

Secretary of the Federation of Chakan Industries, Dileep Batwal, told Punekar News, “The two main roads in this area are like major blood veins of the country, not just Maharashtra. If these roads are damaged, the country might suffer a heart attack. Accidents occur on these roads daily. This area generates significant revenue, and if even 10% of the taxes paid from here were reinvested locally, the development would be massive. However, the government is completely ignoring this region. We request the government, if you can’t do the work, allow us to take charge and deduct the expenses from our taxes.”

Ishan Dhadwad, a native of Nashik and currently studying in Pune, said, “Being from Nashik, I travel frequently on the Pune-Nashik Highway. In the Chakan area, the traffic is always heavy, with large vehicles and containers transporting goods. The drivers are reckless, and I suspect they may be driving under the influence due to their behaviour. It’s a frightening experience travelling through that section, especially near Chakan.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Dr Shivaji Pawar said, “Fatal accidents occur from time to time on both Pune-Nashik Highway and Chakan-Shikrapur Road. We have implemented measures to prevent accidents. Ensuring a smooth flow of traffic is our priority, and preventing any type of accident is equally important.”