Hyderabad: Illegal speed-breakers in densely populated areas are taking a toll on the city’s denizens, with the Road Transport Authority (RTA) admitting that at least 18,745 people on the roads suffered injuries in 2020 alone, though most of these cases were not reported to the traffic police.
Strangely, GHMC and traffic police officials say they have no jurisdiction on road safety, though roads are maintained by civic bodies.
According to a statement from the Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines, dated June 12 1987, which are relevant even today, speed-breakers are to be erected on minor roads which intersect with major roads, and also in mid-block sections in urban areas where there is a tendency of accidents due to speeding, as also near hospitals and schools.
GHMC officials blame contractors for the unscientific and illegal setting up of speed-breakers. In several places, the height of the speed-breakers is much above the limits, resulting in around 15 accidents in the city, daily on an average. Many residential areas in the city have at least 10 speed breakers in a stretch of less than 1km.
Seethaphalmandi, Bagh Ameerpet, Banjara Hills, Yakutpura, Azampura, Chanchalguda, Dabeerpura, Barkas, Salala, Madhavapuri, Yousufguda,AS Rao Nagar, Secunderabad, Vikrampuri, Tolichowki, Kukatpally Housing Board, Chandanagar, Mehdipatnam, Neredmet, Malkajgiri, Safilguda, Sainikpuri and Red Hills are some of the areas where speed breakers are put at every 200 metres.
Prof K Lakshman Rao, Director and Professor for Centre of Excellence on Disaster Management, JNTUH College of Engineering Hyderabad (JNTUHCEH) and transport engineering expert, said most of the city’s speed-breakers were constructed in violation of norms. These are too high, posing danger to the motorists. Some of the speed-breakers done by the GHMC also do not adhere to the specifications of the IRC, he said.
“These speed-breakers built unscientifically result in water stagnation during the rainy season and damage the roads,” Rao said.
The expert said the conventional speed-breaker should be at the 1/3 size of a lorry tyre. This would not violate the IRC guidelines.
The deserted roads have given a sense of insecurity to citizens and lack of surveillance was also encouraging them to violate the law. Besides, while rectifying the speed-breakers according to the norms, the authorities can also take the help of computer vision- based image processors, which will have invisible imaginary lines, he said.
The expert said that this line would enable authorities to track the violators and penalise them at the next point.
Unlike speed guns which cost anywhere from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh, the highly sophisticated computer vision-based image processors would be available at the cost Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 which were already available with the JNTU.
GHMC engineering wing officials, admitting the negligence of executive engineers in all 150 divisions, said there would be stringent action against the officials who violated law.
The officials said there are more than 20,000 unauthorised speed- breakers in the city. “The GHMC has not laid at least one speed-breaker since seven years. It is also the responsibility of denizens to make sure that they resist the illegal speed-breakers in their vicinity,” they said.
