On 2nd main road in Tyagaraja Nagar, a row of cement blocks function as a makeshift speed-breaker. But before that is a manhole cover surrounded by stones. Now, if that is not a danger to motorists, what is.
Speed-breakers may be a necessary evil, but in Bengaluru, unscientifically built and poorly marked ones have become a danger for motorists. Bad speed-breakers have been reported from various parts of the city, especially Outer Ring Road (ORR).
"There are poorly built speed-breakers all over ORR, such as the one near Iblur junction and on both sides of Marathahalli underpass," said Jatin D., a resident of HSR Layout who commutes to Whitefield daily.
One of the main complaints is the lack of warnings before a speed-breaker. “You only realise that you’ve hit one once your car goes over it. I have a weak back and it’s really painful when that happens,” said Priya Mehta from Halasuru.
Another issue is that it is difficult to spot speed-breakers, as the white paint has been washed away. Such speed-breakers can be seen in front of Frank Anthony Public School on Cambridge Road and on Bull Temple Road in Basavanagudi.
As per regulations, road humps should be painted in a ‘V’ shape and illuminated by Cat’s Eyes (embedded solar cells that glow in the dark).
Possible solutions “The engineering department should ensure that speed-breakers are built as per Indian Road Congress standards,” said R. Hitendra, additional commissioner of police (traffic).
Another possible solution is 3-D breakers, where special paint is used to give the illusion of a speed-breaker. But Executive Engineer of BBMP Traffic Cell D.S. Ramesh is doubtful of their efficacy. "We will need to analyse the pros and cons," he said.
Indian Road Congress standard for speed-breakers
Central Height: 10-12 cm;
Shape: Parabola;
Width: 3.5 metres;
Width: same as road width
People’s Speak On the junction of M.V. Iyengar Road and 3rd Cross Road in Gavipuram Extension, a concrete drain cover juts several inches above the road level. It gives a spine-breaking jerk to motorists. Speed-breakers are not preceded by warning signs
— Kamal Laddha, resident, Mothinagar
Our locality has at least 2 in almost every street. To give a specific case of an unnecessary hump, there is one before the signal of the T junction where the 1st Main Road meets Jayamahal Road. There are more in front of some VIPs’ houses
N.K. Raghavendran, Ganganagar Extension
READER’S MAIL Due to the shoddy attempt to flatten speed-breakers, vehicles have to slow down. I filed three complaints on the BBMP Sahaaya website, which are yet to be addressed
– Jatin D ., resident, HSR Layout
While driving across Karnataka, I found its roads are a death trap with camouflaged speed-breakers
– Ashim Sen , Mumbai
I’m yet to spot a scientific speed-breaker in Bengaluru, mostly it's just rocks. The inner roads of Doddenakundi are a gold mine for speed-breakers. Potholes are filled with rocks and tiles. Another location is either service road around Marathahalli-Panathur jn. Prestige tech park has ‘inverted’ speed-breakers, like trenches dug out
A resident of Basava Nagar
Tweets Hosa road and Haralur road have too many unscientific humps. Very painful drive.
@bala_senthil
Chinnappanahalli main road has 12 illegal & unscientific speed breakers
@shashibk
The entire #SarjapurRoad stretch is marred with unscientific speed breakers with no marking
@pakhil
Expert speak Every third Saturday, the police hold public consultations, where we have been taking up cases of unscientific speed-breakers. They ensure that the information reaches the BBMP. Such steps can improve the situation
— Ravindranath Guru , managing trustee of RTI activist group Kria Katte
Rules on positioning and design are not being followed. Speed-breakers are put at the whims and fancies of various people. There must be an agency to look at them solely from the road design point of view
— T.G. Sitharam , Associate Faculty, Center for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CiSTUP) of Indian Institute of Science
