India, Dec. 30 -- At least four people died in road accidents every day in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) in the first 11 months of the year, begging the question: is the development juggernaut that's awakening towns and cities around Mumbai exacting a human cost?

According to figures with the state transport department, 1,428 people lost their lives in 5,508 road accidents across the MMR, including Mumbai, from January to November this year. This was a marginal increase, from 1,403 fatalities from 5,448 accidents, during the same period in 2024, and 1,376 fatalities from 5,450 accidents in 2023.

After Mumbai (326), the highest number of fatalities were in Navi Mumbai (257), followed by Palghar (246). But, as far as accidents go, ...