Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body does not believe in speed breakers even though the city has become an accident-prone zone
Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body does not believe in speed breakers even though the city has become an accident-prone zone
The two city corporations have a different outlook towards road safety measures. While Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) prefers to bide by the law, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) prefers necessity.
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Accidents because of lack of speed breakers at PCMC have become a concern for commuters there. But seemingly, the corporation prefers accidents, but not disobeying the high court order.
According to Ajay Sudwansi, legal advisor, PCMC, "In 2005, a bench comprising of Chief Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice S A Bobde from the Bombay high court had asked the BMC to demolish all unauthorised speed breakers. The order applied to the rest of the state. They had clarified that speed breakers cannot be constructed on city areas, and if required, a traffic police NOC is required."
The PCMC has so far stood by this judgment and has not built any speed breakers on these areas. Sudwansi added, "We are law-abiding citizens and are therefore not allowing speed breakers in these areas." When reminded that accidents happen because of their lack, he added, "I accept that, but we don't want to do anything illegal. Those who want to break rules are free to do so."
There are around 300 speed breakers in the PMC area, and they have applied for some new ones to the traffic police division. Vivek Kharwadkar, additional city engineer (road), said, "We are not breaking any kind of rules. Whenever we see a necessity for a speed breaker, we apply to the traffic police division. They are not built unnecessarily."
PI V Palsule, traffic division, said, "They are built according to norms set by the India Road Congress. There are certain parameters under which we have to sanction the idea. PMC keeps sending us proposals, and after our official visit to the spot, the necessary measurements, we allow them to do so."
On the other hand, an official from Chinchwad police station added that they get numerous complains of accidents because of lack of speed breakers. "The most accident prone areas are Nashik Phata, Pradhikaran, and old-Mumbai-Pune highway, with three to four accidents per week."u00a0
Manoj Patil, DCP, traffic division, said, "Speed breakers are important only if built at the right place. It definitely helps having them at accident-prone spots. According to a WHO report, 10 per cent increase in speed results in 30 per cent increase in deaths.
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