There were flagrant safety violations highlighted in the International Road Federation (IRF) audit report on the section of the road where Cyrus Mistry's car met with a tragic accident. Mistry, a former chairman of Tata Sons, and another person were killed after the Mercedes GLC SUV they were riding in collided with a barrier that purportedly jutted out onto the highway connecting Mandor, Maharashtra, and Achhad, Gujarat.

This audit was carried out by a team from the India chapter of the IRF, a global organisation for road safety with headquarters in Geneva. IRF noted in a press release that the 70-km length of NH 48 is in need of basic maintenance, lacks sufficient signage to direct traffic, and has more than two dozen median openings. The absence of important road markings and signage was also discovered. "The audit was carried out barely a week after the fatal crash at Palghar that shook the country. IRF said the audit was conducted after consent from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The report has been submitted to MoRTH and NHAI for action," said Mr K K Kapila, President, Emeritus, IRF.

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The audit also discovered that this length of road contains a large number of important and minor structures, including flyovers, automotive underpasses, pedestrian underpasses, significant bridges, and culverts. “The 70-km long section of NH-48 is a six-lane highway with a divided carriageway, with the exception of the Surya River bridge on the left-hand side (LHS) where Mistry’s car met with the accident. At this location, there is a two-lane carriageway on the bridge (on the LHS carriageway), and there is a separate carriageway through an existing narrow bridge, which is accessed on the old alignment which is provided through an “unassuming divergence" from the running three-lane LHS carriageway a short distance of 75-100 meters before the bridge on the LHS carriageway of the new alignment," said MR Satish Parakh, President, IRF-India chapter.

The report also offers a number of suggestions to prevent unpleasant and fatal occurrences from happening again. One of these is the placement of numerous caution signs at various locations prior to the bridge's opening. Additionally, it was suggested that concrete barriers similar to those in New Jersey be installed and that all medians be promptly closed.

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The terrible deaths of Mistry and one other person have increased national attention on the need for better infrastructure and on the nation's laws and regulations governing road safety. According to preliminary findings, Mistry, who was sitting in the back of the GLC, was not using a seatbelt. The majority of drivers and passengers in this nation experience this phenomenon. Police officials in many states have recently started devoted initiatives to check on this, but the two main causes are a lack of awareness and inefficient enforcement. 

Additionally, there is an increasing desire to hold responsible parties liable for poorly maintained roads or highway segments that have potentially dangerous stretches without the necessary warning signs. With a rule requiring six airbags in all cars and variants ready to take effect, automakers have been pushed to raise the safety standards in their individual products.

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