Motorists playing dodge with jaywalkers who regularly stray on to the six-lane expressway have been having a harrowing time, with more than five accidents recorded in the last three months alone. Only last week, a 17-year-old cyclist, a resident of Airoli, was fatally knocked down by a motorist, when the former tried to cut into the fast lane.

The vital 1-km long bridge is connected to 60-ft-wide approach roads at either end which connect Mulund in mainland Mumbai to the Airoli-node in the satellite township. Cutting the distance by at least 10 km for motorists enteringNavi Mumbai, the bridge will eventually be linked to the Mumbai-Pune expressway on the latter's completion. However, ever since the bridge was built early this year, Airoli residents have been using it as a recreation spot for want of any other scenic location to while away the evening hours. Enterprising hawkers selling fast food and ice-cream have been parking their carts plum on the divider while residents stroll along the pathways parallel to the bridge. After dusk, couples dot the entire stretch of the bridge after parking their motorcycles along the parallel pathways. Inebriated youngsters looking for a lark also stray on to the carriageway, posing a grave danger to motorists.

Sub-Inspector C R Kakde of the Rabale police, which is responsible for policing the bridge and its Airoli-bound approach road, told Express Newsline that complaints have been pouring in from both Airoli residents as well as motorists. Hence, he says, they have alerted the civic authorities.

S Patil, Airoli ward-officerof the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, told Express Newsline: ``We have received complaints against hawkers, but due to election duty we are unable to take action immediately.'' The corporation, though, did try to shoo hawkers away on Wednesday, with the authorities saying they will take lasting measures soon.

Another cause for accidents on the bridge is the bushes planted on the five-foot-wide divider, which obstructs the motorists' vision. This is especially dangerous at the U-turn located in the middle of the bridge.