Navi Mumbai Tragedy: 50-Year-Old Woman Killed After Being Hit By BMC Garbage Vehicle At Turbhe Junction; Residents Demand Pedestrian Bridge

On October 27, 2026, a tragic incident occurred in Navi Mumbai when a 50-year-old woman named Chhaya Gaikwad was killed after being struck by a speeding garbage collection vehicle operated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The accident took place at the Turbhe Store junction near Turbhe railway station, a location infamous for its lack of pedestrian safety. The woman had crossed the road at around 5 pm to reach her home when the vehicle, moving towards Thane, hit her, resulting in her death on the spot.

Prior to this incident, Turbhe Store junction had seen a grim tally with 23 fatalities and over 50 injuries due to road accidents over the span of ten years. The residents, deeply affected by this recurring cycle of tragedy, have taken to the streets in protest. They staged a road blockade, demanding immediate safety measures to prevent further loss of life.

They specifically called for the completion of the long-pending flyover, the construction of a temporary pedestrian bridge, and improved traffic management at the junction.

Santosh Jadhav, a resident of Turbhe, voiced the frustrations of the community. He stated, “The authorities are waiting for another person to die before taking action. People have been losing their lives while crossing this road for years, yet there is still no safe facility for pedestrians. How many more lives will it take for the administration to wake up?”

The protest caused disruptions on the Thane-Belapur Road during the evening rush hour. Law enforcement, including Turbhe police and traffic police personnel, intervened to persuade the protesters to clear the road, allowing traffic to resume.

The Turbhe Store junction is a densely populated route used by thousands of workers, students, and local residents daily. Due to the absence of a safe pedestrian crossing, individuals are compelled to cross fast-moving traffic, placing schoolchildren and senior citizens at a heightened risk of accidents. Over the years, residents have consistently raised concerns about the danger posed by this stretch.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had approved a 560-metre-long, four-lane flyover in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 41 crore to address the congestion and reduce accidents at the junction. However, the project has been plagued by numerous hurdles. These include an existing MIDC sewer line underneath the road, design-related complications, and administrative delays.

Work halted midway and resumed only after receiving approval from IIT Bombay for a revised design. Despite the partial progress, the flyover remains incomplete five years after its initiation.

The ongoing construction has also impacted traffic flow, exacerbating congestion during morning and evening peak hours. The residents have made it clear that they expect the civic administration to expedite the flyover and provide a temporary pedestrian crossing facility immediately to avert further tragedies.