Remove unscientific speed breakers: Upalokayukta

Upalokayukta Justice Subash B Adi has asked the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to remove all unscientific and unauthorised speed breakers and submit an action taken report within a month.

The Upalokayukta, in a report sent to the government under Section 12(3) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, also directed authorities concerned to ensure construction of highways and other roads as per the Indian Road Congress guidelines.

B V Maheshwarappa of Chikkamagaluru had filed a complaint with the Upalokayukta that unscientific speed breakers on NH-206, particularly between Kadur and Shivamogga and onwards, has caused several accidents.

Besides, a Central Road Accident Report stated that 970 deaths were caused due to potholes and unscientific speed breakers in Karnataka in 2014.

In its response to the complaint, the PWD and NHAI admitted that there were several unauthorised speed breakers but said they were put up by local residents in the wake of series of accidents.

An official said: “The authorities said that between Kadur and Shivamogga alone, nine unauthorised road humps (sic) were constructed. Even after removing them, the local residents reconstructed them. Along with the specific complaint, an enquiry was also conducted...It was revealed that such road humps exist on most national highways, including express highways, causing slow movement of traffic and also resulting in accidents.”

The enquiry report stated that unscientific speed breakers exist on Bengaluru-Pune, Bengaluru-Hyderabad and Bengaluru-Chennai highways, and that poor maintenance was one of the main reasons behind accidents on highways on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

“Most of the road humps (sic) on highways on the outskirts of the city (Bengaluru) are not visible. They lack proper markings and there are no reflectors. There are specifications issued by the Indian Road Congress and reiterated by the Supreme Court. None of these specifications are followed in the city and elsewhere,” the official added.