District Collector K. Rajamani has asked the Highways Department and the Coimbatore Corporation to relay speed breakers which were removed as part of various VIPs visits to the city.
The instruction was given at the District Road Safety Committee meeting last week which was held after a gap of nearly two-and-a-half-years.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Rajamani said that the Highways and the Corporation have been asked to relay speed breakers removed during VIPs visits within 10 days.
“The instruction was given as I was informed that several speed breakers removed during VIP visits in the past were not relaid. Henceforth, speed breakers removed for VIP visits should be relaid immediately after the such visits,” he said.
At the road safety committee meeting, the police had pointed the need for relaying speed breakers on accidents prone stretches which were removed ahead of VIPs visits for the swift passage of the convoy.
Latest in the list, speed breakers were widely removed when President Ram Nath Kovind visited Coimbatore in March this year.
During his stay in Coimbatore, the President had travelled by road from the Circuit House to the Air Force Station, Sulur, where he had taken part in President’s Colours presentation ceremony on March, 4. The stretch has a few speed breakers as it is a National Highway.
Speed breakers where removed widely from the Circuit House to Isha Yoga Foundation where the President had attended Shivaratri celebrations on March, 4 evening. Police officials, who attended the District Road Safety Committee, had raised its demand to relay speed breakers razed on this 30-odd km stretch.
Mr. Rajamani said that the relaying works of the speed breakers entrusted to the Highways and the Corporation will be reviewed at the next sitting of the Committee.
Meanwhile, K. Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Cause and member of the District Road Safety Committee said that norms of the Indian Road Congress (IRC) were not followed while laying speed breakers in many parts of the district. “99% of speed breakers installed on various roads were not in accordance with the IRC norms. As per norms, there should not be any speed breakers on National Highways. Many speed breakers laid on city roads are unscientific and not as per IRC norms. Most of them lack caution boards and reflective painting. Such aspects should be considered while relaying the speed breakers,” he said.