Daijiworld Media Network - Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai, May 27: A 56-year-old journalist from Navi Mumbai, known for her work on women’s rights and safety issues, sustained severe injuries in a hit-and-run accident on Palm Beach Road after a speeding motorcyclist allegedly jumped a traffic signal and rammed into her scooty.

The victim, Sandhya Jain, has been admitted to Apollo Hospital in Seawoods for the past nine days with multiple fractures in both hands, a fractured nose, facial injuries, and several other wounds.

What has sparked further concern is that the accused biker remains unidentified because CCTV cameras installed at the accident spot reportedly failed to clearly capture the motorcycle’s registration number due to poor video quality.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Jain recalled that the accident occurred on May 18 while she was on her way to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) headquarters in Belapur for official work.

According to CCTV footage from cameras installed at the NRI Junction on Palm Beach Road, the crash took place at approximately 4:39 pm. Jain alleged that the biker, dressed in a maroon shirt, violated the red signal and sped directly into her vehicle while she was crossing the junction on a green light.

She further claimed that after the collision left her unconscious on the road, the biker picked up his motorcycle and quietly fled the scene instead of helping her.

Her husband, Sandeep Kumar Jain, a resident of NRI Complex, questioned the effectiveness of the city’s surveillance infrastructure. He said that although an FIR has been registered at NRI Police Station against an unidentified rider for rash and negligent driving, investigators have been unable to trace the accused because the motorcycle number plate is not visible in the footage.

“The accident happened in broad daylight on one of Navi Mumbai’s most prominent roads, where multiple CCTV cameras are installed. It is shocking that the culprit still cannot be identified,” he said.

Investigating officer Kiran Swar from NRI Police Station confirmed that officials have reviewed available CCTV footage but the vehicle number remains unclear. He added that further investigation is underway.

Responding to the controversy, Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Kailas Shinde stated that while the civic body operates a CCTV monitoring facility at its Belapur headquarters, the police are the primary users of the surveillance system for monitoring traffic violations and investigations.

He added that the police should have raised concerns earlier if there were issues regarding camera quality. According to him, the maintenance of the CCTV network is currently being handled by a private agency.

The incident has also triggered criticism from social activists and citizens, who questioned the reliability of the city’s surveillance infrastructure.

Social activist Madhu Shankar said the extensive CCTV network serves little purpose if cameras cannot clearly capture vehicle registration numbers even during daylight hours. She also raised concerns about the effectiveness of the system during nighttime accidents or criminal incidents.

Meanwhile, city-based social worker Rajesh Singh from the Ganga Sagar Foundation called for the installation of high-definition cameras equipped with AI-based facial recognition and advanced number plate detection technology to improve law enforcement capabilities on major roads.

The incident has reignited debate over road safety, traffic enforcement, and the efficiency of public surveillance systems in Navi Mumbai.