A serious accident occurred on the Ahmedabad-Udaipur National Highway around midnight on Monday. A dumper, which was empty and heading towards Ahmedabad from Himmatnagar, fell off the railway overbridge at Prantij. The dumper dropped approximately 10 feet from the edge of the overbridge. The driver sustained injuries in the incident. Emergency services were quick to respond, with a 108 ambulance arriving at the scene promptly. The injured driver was rushed to the Prantij government hospital for immediate medical attention. The Prantij police were informed about the accident and arrived at the site to initiate legal proceedings. It is notable that construction work is currently ongoing on this road, which may have contributed to the incident.
Accidents on the roads of Ahmedabad have been a growing concern. Recent statistics show that around 30% of fatal accidents in the city involve pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. A study conducted by the Ahmedabad traffic police revealed that over the past two and a half years, 1,038 civilians have lost their lives due to poor road design and illegal cuts in the roads. The rush of pedestrians and two-wheeler drivers crossing roads hastily is making these roads increasingly dangerous.
The question arises: who is responsible for turning Ahmedabad’s roads into accident zones? Research indicates that between 26% to 30% of fatal accidents are caused by errors made by two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. Most serious accidents occur due to the negligence of these road users. In 2023, 2024, and the first three months of 2025, a total of around 4,000 accidents have been recorded in Ahmedabad, resulting in 1,038 fatalities among two-wheeler drivers and pedestrians.
The reasons behind the increasing number of accidents also include the high speed of vehicles on major roads, which can lead to deadly incidents when pedestrians or cyclists make slight mistakes. It is clear that reckless driving and hasty crossing of roads are contributing to these fatalities.
The Ahmedabad police and municipal corporation are making efforts to address the issues of faulty road designs and illegal cuts. In the first three months of 2025 alone, traffic police have collected fines amounting to ₹10 crore. They are actively penalising two-wheeler riders for not wearing helmets and ensuring that larger vehicles comply with speed limits. In 2023, fines of ₹2 crore were collected, and in 2024, ₹20 crore from 300,000 city residents were imposed. In the early months of 2025, around 150,000 cases were registered, leading to fines of ₹10 crore.
Traffic police officials emphasize the importance of self-awareness and adherence to traffic rules to save lives and avoid fines. Despite significant investments in improving road safety on SG Highway, the number of fatal accidents has not decreased. So far this year, 22 people have died in fatal accidents, with 40 sustaining serious injuries and 10 suffering minor injuries. In 2024, the figures were 31 deaths, 40 serious injuries, and 10 minor injuries. In 2023, there were 20 deaths and 40 injuries.
This indicates that despite efforts to make roads safer, the lack of self-discipline among drivers continues to contribute to the high rate of accidents.
In addition to these safety concerns, the weather forecast predicts rain in various districts of Gujarat from the 19th of this month. Heavy rainfall is expected in Chhotaudepur and Narmada districts on the 22nd. This weather condition may further complicate the already challenging road safety situation in the region.
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