Despite HC no, PWD spent Rs13.99cr on fibre speed breakers

Nagpur: The state government’s public works department spent Rs 13.99 crore for installing fibre speed breakers at 23 different roads across the city. The department revealed this before the state information commission, while replying to a RTI query filed by general secretary of Maharashtra Youth Congress Ajit Singh.
Singh is running from pillar to post to get information on fibre speed breakers being installed at many places on city roads. He had filed RTI applications with NMC and PWD, seeking details of cost, supplier agencies. “Until recently, both the government agencies refused to provide any information or tried to provide misleading information,” he said.

Though NMC has not given any information yet, PWD recently submitted the details after Singh moved the state information commission. PWD stated they had installed fibre speed breakers even after the high court had directed government agencies to follow Indian Road Congress (IRC) norms while constructing speed bumps.

PWD before the state information commission admitted it had spent Rs 13.99 crore for installing these speed breakers. The roads where it had installed fibre-based speedbreakers included old railway feeder road (Pardi-Bagadganj road) and Military road, near BSNL Office (Palace Road), five different spots in Civil Lines, Sadar Bazar road, TV Tower square, Police Lake road, Chhaoni Chowk etc.

Executive Engineer PWD J H Bhanuse admitted before the state information commission that no permission was sought from the traffic police.

As per rule, nod of District Road Safety Committee headed by chairman and district collector is a must. PWD blatantly ignored the norms of Indian Road Congress-99 and spent taxpayers’ money to erect unauthorised speed breakers. After a recent high court order, NMC removed fibre speed breakers, still there are many roads in the city where these can be found. There are also no caution boards installed.

Now, Singh is planning to move Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court against the state PWD to recover money spent on erecting unauthorized speed breakers from officials responsible.