top of page

By:

Dr. Abhilash Dawre

19 March 2025 at 5:18:41 pm

Eleven killed in van accident

Thane: In a tragic accident that claimed 11 lives within moments, a passenger van collided head-on with a cement mixer on the Kalyan–Ahilyanagar National Highway near Rayate village in Kalyan taluka, leaving the entire Thane district shaken. The impact was so severe that all passengers in the van died on the spot, turning multiple families’ lives upside down.   The accident took place on a bridge over the Ulhas River. The van was completely crushed, reduced to a mangled heap of metal. Despite...

Eleven killed in van accident

Thane: In a tragic accident that claimed 11 lives within moments, a passenger van collided head-on with a cement mixer on the Kalyan–Ahilyanagar National Highway near Rayate village in Kalyan taluka, leaving the entire Thane district shaken. The impact was so severe that all passengers in the van died on the spot, turning multiple families’ lives upside down.   The accident took place on a bridge over the Ulhas River. The van was completely crushed, reduced to a mangled heap of metal. Despite immediate rescue attempts by local villagers, not a single life could be saved.   While speaking to, ‘The Perfect Voice’ , Thane Civil Surgeon Dr. Kailash Pawar confirmed that all 11 victims died on the spot. The bodies were subsequently shifted to the rural hospital in Goveli for post-mortem examinations. Heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed at the hospital as a large number of relatives gathered, grieving the sudden and tragic loss of their loved ones.   Out of the deceased, nine have been identified while two remain unidentified. The victims include eight men and three women. Identified individuals include  1) Prashant alias Bablu Rupesh Chandane - 21 years, Devgaon, Murbad. 2) Bhushan Ghorpade - 49 years, Andheri, Mumbai; Revenue Assistant at the Tehsildar Office, Murbad. 3) Jija Govinda Kembari - 50 years, Tembhare, Murbad. 4) Ananta Pawar - Sakhare, Murbad. 5) Deepak Gavali - Resident of Kalyan. 6) Ganpat Jainu Madhe - 32 years, Devaralwadi, Murbad. 7) Sneha Mohpe - approximately 22 years, Narayangaon, Murbad. 8) Mansi Mohpe - approximately 20 years, Narayangaon, Murbad. 9) Prathamesh Mohpe - approximately 17 years, Narayangaon, Murbad.   The tragedy has left behind grieving families, unanswered questions, and renewed concerns over road safety on this highway.   Three siblings among killed What began as a simple journey ended in unimaginable tragedy. Three siblings who had left home saying, “We’ll be back in a few days, Mom,” lost their lives in the horrific accident near Rayate bridge, leaving their mother devastated and alone. Sneha Mohpe (22), Mansi Mohpe (20), and Prathamesh Mohpe (17), residents of Diva, were among the 11 victims of the crash. The three were raised single-handedly by their mother, Anjana Mohpe, after their father passed away seven years ago. Despite financial hardships, Anjana Mohpe worked tirelessly in household jobs to educate her children and build a better future for them. The siblings were studying in Diva and Thane and had recently left for Parhe village in Murbad taluka to visit their uncle during college holidays.   However, fate had other plans. Their journey ended abruptly when the passenger van they were travelling in collided head-on with a cement mixer near Rayate bridge, killing all on board instantly.

Indian Shipbuilding A Must Win Marathon

Shipbuilding

With a coastline of 7500 KM, it is hard to imagine, that for the first 20 years (1947-1967) India had no ‘shipping ministry’. In 1967 a Shipping ministry “coupled” with ROAD transport was established. Since then, this ministry has been on a name changing ride, not once, not twice but six times. In 2009 the “ROAD Transport and Highways” was de-coupled and ‘Shipping’ ministry was formed. Turning point came in 2015 with a clear maritime vision for 2030 and 2047. Ministry was re-christened, aptly to Ministry of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” in 2020.


Why is Shipbuilding important for a country?

a. A Shipyard becomes an opportunity hub and like a queen bee requires the support of an industrial colony to manufacture machinery and equipment.

b. National Shipyards support fleet renewal needs of the Navy.

c. Contributes to national GDP, increases inflow of FOREX.


Korea shipbuilding is 8% of GDP. Japan’s automobile industry is 2.9% of GDP. India’s shipbuilding a meagre 0.000578% of GDP. In context, India’s pharmaceutical industry, ranked third largest in the world is 1.72% of India’s GDP.


International Shipbuilding Market

The market is estimated to reach around USD 200 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.84%. While India is at bottom with 0.07% of world share, behind Philippines 1.5% and Vietnam 1%, however on the positive side, India has done well in taking care of its defence needs, with 37 of 39 Naval ships being built in India yards. Rear Admiral S Shrikhande researching on maritime as a Fellow at Wollongong University, Australia, says “Shipbuilding in India needs both, serious incentivisation and dogged determination and not harping on being a big ship breaking country. That Garden Reach shipyard has a $54 million order for merchant ships from a German owner, is a good sign.”


Were Shipyards of 20th century in Flight mode?

Prominent shipyards in India were built in the colonial period. Mazagon Dock 1774, Garden reach 1884, Hindustan shipyard 1941 to cater to British navy and merchant fleet needs. Cochin shipyard 1972, Adani Katupalli 2013, Reliance Naval and Engineering, Rajula Gujarat 1997 and others have limited capacity, hence a lot more work to do. Capt. Subhangshu Dutt (Singapore) a mariner and now a shipowner, says “GOI should hold hands in any collaboration till the marriage with the foreign entity is reasonably stable. He also suggests that “new shipbuilding sites should be given to existing successful shipyards since they have decades of experience and talent. Consortium of 3 or more parties may also be good idea”.


Shipbuilding GOLD

As per SPLASH report the demand for LCO2 carriers could reach 2,500 ships by 2050. As per other estimates, 40% of global fleet of ships could have wind propulsion by 2050. A surge in such vessels is due to an unparallel waves of decarbonization in the shipping industry. Demand for ships with ‘carbon neutral’ badges, such as Dual fuel, Wind assisted, Nuclear fuel ships, Hydrogen powered ships, Liquified CO2 (LCO2) carrier, is outstripping supply. A must in the ‘bucket list’ of every Shipyard. Pinning down a standard ROI in shipbuilding is not easy, but experts suggest it could range from 4% to 15% for the high demand ‘carbon neutral’ ships. While an LNG new build vessel could cost US$ 250 million upwards.


International collaboration

On China’s shipbuilding success story, Manoj Pandalanghat (Singapore) a mariner and ship owner believes that “China has around 50 active Shipyards. Each have a few large dry docks. In each dock two or more large vessels are built simultaneously. Thus, a single yard is able to roll out 2/3 vessels/month, 36 vessels/year and 50 shipyards roll out 1800 vessels/year”.


China could be a jaldi-5, but India needs a sturdy Mount Fiji. Besides technology, Japanese bring the most important hand baggage of soft-skills and culture, essential for success from keel laying to delivery. Maruti’s is a standing example.


Food for thought for New Delhi

a. Expertise: Hire Naval Architects and shipbuilding experts with current international experience.

b. Government assistance: Land, Financial support, subsidies and timebound clearances.

c. Monitoring: PMO should monitor the first 5 to 10 years till Shipbuilding takes-off on this long-haul flight to destination 2047.


India’s Shipbuilding is expected to grow to $237 billion by year 2047. On a back of the envelope calculations this works out to about 4% of India’s 2047 projected GDP of $ 5 trillion. While cars are driven on roads, however the Ministry of roads and transport has little to do with “Automobile manufacturing”. On a similar note, ‘Shipbuilding’ as an industry has little to do with Ports, Shipping and Waterways, thus it may be worthwhile to consider a separate ‘Ship-building’ wing in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways headed by a dynamic cabinet rank minister. Since 2047 targets are stiff and an uphill task, so in all probabilities, the officials in Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways are likely to push beneath the carpet, delays and failures of Shipbuilding with sweet success stories of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” and if this does happen then India will not only miss the Shipbuilding bus of 21st century but a lot more from a national security and strategic perspective.


(The author is a Shipping and Marine consultant. Member Singapore Shipping Association and empaneled with IMO as a specialist consultant. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page