Bengaluru: Upalokayukta Justice Subash B Adi has instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for removal of all unscientific and unauthorised speed breakers and to submit a report on the action taken within a month.
The Upalokayukta, in a report sent to the government under Section 12(3) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act directed the concerned authorities to adhere to the Indian Road Congress guidelines during construction of highways and other roads.
B V Maheshwarappa of Chikkamagaluru had lodged a complaint with the Upalokayukta regarding unscientific speed breakers on NH-206, particularly between Kadur and Shivamogga and onwards which has caused several accidents. Also a Central Road Accident Report claims that in 2014, 970 deaths were caused due to potholes and unscientific speed breakers in Karnataka.
The PWD and NHAI while responding to the complaint admitted that there were several unauthorised speed breakers but said that 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 causes 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.
