SPTPL officials granted bail by HC in case of negligence of Sion-Panvel highway

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court (HC) on Friday granted bail to two officials who were arrested for poor maintenance of the Sion-Panvel highway that allegedly led to an accident in July, killing one and injuring some people. Both the officials belonged to the Sion Panvel Tollways Private Limited (SPTPL) and were arrested in July by the Navi Mumbai police.

The accident took place on the highway near Uran Phata flyover when a speeding truck which was on its way to Mumbai, rammed into the rear end of a pick-up van that collided with two other trucks. The driver died on the spot and the other three suffered serious injuries.

The police say the accident took place because the highway was ‘poorly’ maintained. The traffic cops had  sent several reminders to the company to repair the road before the monsoon. Senior counsel Rajiv Chavan, who appeared for the two in the HC, said the accident was a result of rash driving and the employees of SPTPL had no role in it. He  also pointed to a letter dated June 6, 2017, written by the state Public Works Department to SPTPL saying the state would now be maintaining the highway. Justice Bharati Dhangre granted bail to both officials, who were arrested under the case of negligence, on a bond of Rs 1 lakh each.