90% speed bumps in twin towns flout road norms: Study

Citizens’ forum alleges the breakers do not follow rules set by Indian Road Congress; body has approached PCMC commissioner to intervene

In a shocking revelation, Pimpri-Chinchwad citizens’ forum has found that almost 90 per cent of the speed breakers constructed across Pimpri-Chincwad municipal limits are illegal and do not meet the norms set by the Indian Road Congress (IRC). A twomonth-long study was conducted by a group of citizens across Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits, which threw up the findings.

As the badly laid speed breakers are causing damage to vehicles driven along the stretch as well as affecting the spines of commuters, the forum has now approached the PCMC police commissioner and asked to take legal action against the respective authorities.

The survey was conducted by Jagruk Nagrik Mahasang (JNM), a group of citizens, across the PCMC limits. Even officials from PCMC engineering department were present during the course of the survey. While it was found that as many as 90 per cent of the speed breakers constructed by PCMC do not meet IRC norms, what was even more shocking was that of these, most are illegally constructed, i.e., they do not have the required permission from traffic police. Now the group has written to RK Padmanabhan, commissioner of police, PCMC, to take action against the respective civic officials who are found to be flouting the rules.

“The number of accidents, ranging from minor, major to fatal ones, has gone up due to these faulty speed breakers. The prime reason for the increase in the number is that the speed bumps are constructed illegally and not as per set norms. PCMC has not sought the permission of the traffic department while constructing them. The police should, therefore, take adequate measures against them,” said Nitin Yadav, president of JNM.


IRC has stated that speed breakers are formed basically by providing a rounded (of 17 metre radius) hump of 3.7 metres width and a 0.10 metre height for the preferred advisory crossing speed of 25 km/h for general traffic. Location of the speed breakers are authorised by the traffic police department on its own or on suggestions received from the public. The citizens can even send suggestions for need of speed breakers to the traffic police department or municipal corporation. The municipal corporation takes permission from traffic police before going ahead with the construction of the speed breakers.

The survey was conducted in all the zones — A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H of the PCMC area. As many as 1,000 speed breakers do not meet the norms of IRC and most of them are constructed without the permission of the traffic police, claimed the forum members. Most of the illegal speed breakers are in the alleys. The worst is the H zone, which has Sant Tukaram Nagar, Kasarwadi, Dapodi, Phugewadi, New Sangvi and Old Sangvi, they said.

“There is no marking or paint on the speed breakers or sign boards to caution motorists. Vehicles are getting damaged. While bikers are worst hit, with spines getting badly affected. Sometimes, there are unnecessary breakers, at times two or three even in a 50-metre stretch. Hapless bikers have a back-breaking experience and are left with severe back pains,” said Umesh Sanas, secretary, JNM.

Speaking to Mirror, Shravan Hardikar, PCMC chief, agreed that a review meeting will be conducted to find the exact number of illegal speed breakers on the stretch and find out which ones do not meet IRC rules. Hardikar shared, “We will find out the number of breakers that exist and flout IRC norms. Once we find out these speed breakers are not as per set norms, we have to see whether they need to be rectified as per the norms, if required. We will take into consideration feedback from the traffic police department, citizens and engineers.”

Hardikar also informed, “There are two groups, one that wants the speed breakers and the other that don’t want them. We have to find the right space of the city and find a solution that would be mutually agreed upon by both sets of citizens. I will definitely look into the issue and review it to take appropriate action.”