Nagpur Bike Taxi Crash Claims Driver's Life, Injures Two in Pratap Nagar
A tragic road accident involving an illegally operating app-based bike taxi has resulted in the death of its driver and left two others injured in Nagpur's Pratap Nagar area on Saturday night. The incident has starkly highlighted how banned bike taxi services continue to function with apparent impunity, despite repeated warnings and enforcement drives by authorities.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The accident occurred at Radhe Mangalam Chowk, where the bike taxi, carrying a passenger, collided with a moped crossing the road. According to Assistant Police Inspector Amol Tambe, the bike taxi driver was speeding at the time of the impact. Following the initial collision, a speeding SUV coming from the Padole Hospital side ran over the head of the fallen bike taxi driver and fled the scene immediately.
Local residents quickly rushed to assist the victims, shifting them to a nearby private hospital. Tragically, the bike taxi driver was declared dead upon arrival. The injured parties included the moped rider and the bike taxi passenger, both of whom received medical treatment.
Victims Identified
The deceased has been identified as Vivek Borkar, a 38-year-old resident of Janki Nagar. The injured include Anup Singh, who hails from Bikaner in Rajasthan, and Ritesh Surana, a 50-year-old resident of Gopal Nagar. Singh, who works with an infrastructure company on hydraulic machine-related assignments, had traveled from Delhi to Chandrapur for work at a cement factory. He arrived in Nagpur by private bus and booked the bike taxi from Chhatrapati Square bus stand to reach his hotel on Hingna Road. After receiving treatment, Singh was discharged, while Surana continues to undergo medical care.
Police Investigation and Legal Actions
Pratap Nagar police have registered a case of rash driving and causing death due to negligence against both the bike taxi driver and the SUV driver involved in the incident. Authorities have launched a thorough investigation, scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas to trace the SUV driver who fled after the accident.
In a significant development, the Regional Transport Office (City) Kiran Bidkar stated that bike taxis are illegal in the region. "We have taken action against them many times, but they resume operations periodically. In this case, we will write to city police to also book the owner of the company, as it is operating without obtaining an aggregator's licence from the transport department," Bidkar emphasized.
Broader Implications and Union Demands
This incident has once again brought attention to the persistent operation of illegal app-based bike taxis in Nagpur, despite repeated crackdowns by the transport department. Meanwhile, the Vidarbha App-Based Taxi Union, led by president Deepak Sane, has written a letter to District Collector Vipin Itankar and the Regional Transport Office, demanding strict action against these allegedly illegal services.
The union has also called for insurance compensation to be provided to the family of the deceased driver, highlighting the need for accountability and support in such tragic circumstances. The ongoing issue underscores the challenges in regulating emerging transportation services and ensuring public safety on the roads.
