Roads in city have undergone a massive transformation over the past few years, with hundreds of crores being spent on road widening, concretisation, flyovers and junction improvements. Yet, for those who walk, the city appears to have become no safer. Data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act reveals that 373 pedestrians were killed in 398 road accidents across the city and surrounding areas between January 1, 2022 and May 31, 2026, exposing the human cost behind the city’s expanding road network. The figures, provided by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in response to an RTI application filed by activist Abhay Kolarkar, show that the MIDC traffic zone recorded highest number of pedestrian fatalities, with 94 deaths, making it the deadliest zone for people on foot. Kamptee followed with 53 pedestrian deaths, while Ajni recorded 45.

 

Sakkardara and Indora reported 34 and 35 deaths respectively, while Sadar witnessed 32 pedestrian fatalities. Even busy commercial areas such as Sitabuldi and Cotton Market accounted for 23 and 15 pedestrian deaths respectively. The RTI data does not merely point to the plight of pedestrians. It presents a broader picture of road safety by categorising fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles, two-wheelers, highways, tankers and cement mixers, besides police personnel killed in the accidents. Heavy vehicles continue to pose a major threat on city roads. Kamptee recorded the highest number of fatal heavy vehicle crashes at 157, followed by Ajni (128), MIDC (73), Sakkardara (47) and Indora (41). These figures indicate that freight corridors and industrial areas remain among the most dangerous stretches for commuters.

 

Highway accidents also contributed significantly to fatalities. Kamptee alone reported 99 highway deaths during the period, followed by Ajni with 97. Sadar recorded 53 highway fatalities, while Sitabuldi and Indora accounted for 19 and 21 respectively, reflecting the risks associated with high-speed traffic on roads passing through or bordering the city. The data further highlights the role of vulnerable two-wheeler users in fatal crashes. Indora recorded 21 deaths in two-wheeler accidents, while Sadar reported 10 and Sakkardara 11. Fatal crashes involving tankers and cement mixers were concentrated in industrial and transport hubs, with MIDC recording 34 deaths, Kamptee 34 and Sadar 26. Taken together, the figures suggest that road fatalities are not confined to a handful of accident black spots but are spread across multiple police station jurisdictions and vehicle categories. They also reinforce concerns frequently raised by road safety experts that infrastructure projects have prioritised vehicle movement over pedestrian protection.