188 Accidents, 36 Dead In 3 Years: NH-848 Upgrade Delayed Amid Focus On 'Killer' Bhiwandi Stretch

Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 19:41 IST

The project to widen the Thane–Vadpe section of NH-848 from four lanes to eight lanes, along with two-lane service roads on both sides, is expected to be completed by March

Acknowledging severe traffic congestion, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Thursday said the widening of the Thane–Vadpe section of National Highway (NH)-848 from four lanes to eight lanes, along with two-lane service roads on both sides, is expected to be completed by March.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also informed the House that at least 36 people were killed and 152 were injured in 188 accidents over the past three calendar years on the NH-848 stretch in Bhiwandi.

The fatalities were attributed to overspeeding, rash driving, drinking and driving, and lane indiscipline, the ministry said in response to a query on accident rates in Bhiwandi district.

At least nine deaths were reported in 2023, along with 54 injuries in 63 accidents. This increased to 89 accidents resulting in 74 injuries and 15 deaths in 2024. In 2025, accidents declined to 36, with 24 injuries and 12 deaths. However, despite fewer crashes in 2025, the fatality ratio rose to one death in every three accidents.

“In order to enhance road safety on NH-848, one flyover, nine vehicular underpasses and one light vehicular underpass are provisioned in the widening work of the Thane-Vadpe section," Gadkari said.

The project is delayed by over a year after it missed its first deadline in September 2024, an official told News18.

NH-848 starts from Thane on NH-48, connecting Nashik in Maharashtra. It passes through Kaprada before terminating at Pardi on NH-48 in Gujarat. The total highway is nearly 275 km, with major sections, over 206 km, falling in Maharashtra.

Responding to Bhiwandi MP Suresh Mhatre’s question, Gadkari also said that 11 accidents and four deaths have been reported on NH 61 in the district. These four deaths were reported in 2023 and 2024 (two each).

The Thane–Vadpe stretch serves as a crucial freight and commuter corridor within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, particularly for Bhiwandi’s warehousing and logistics hub. Officials said traffic volumes have steadily increased over the years, leading to peak-hour bottlenecks and higher crash vulnerability. The proposed capacity augmentation is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce conflict points once operational.

News auto 188 Accidents, 36 Dead In 3 Years: NH-848 Upgrade Delayed Amid Focus On 'Killer' Bhiwandi Stretch

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