‘Model speed-breakers’ to slow down vehicles safely

Rumbling strips are found in Pune at Jangli Maharaj Road in Pune,but there is no central larger speed bump.

When contacted,Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said he had experienced such speed-breakers somewhere near Kalamboli on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. “Since they slow down vehicles,but do not inconvenience drivers,we thought of putting them in place in Pimpri-Chinchwad. If drivers and riders find it appropriate,we will replicate the speed-breakers in other parts of the town,” said Pardeshi who had promised to set up “model speed-breakers” soon after he joined in June.

Deepak Pardeshi,a resident of Nehrunagar said,”The speed-breakers at Vallabhnagar seem perfect. When you suddenly land on the tiny bumps even at night you are forced to slow down without any sudden jumps. On the single speed-breakers in other parts of town,you don’t realise it until you suddenly bump into them and damage the vehicles and even cause injury to riders or drivers,” he said. Shilpa P,a two-wheeler rider who was hurt after her vehicle hit a speed-breaker in March last year,said,”It is good to learn that PCMC has finally woken up. But PCMC should set up such speed-breakers in Bhosari and Indrayani Nagar where hundreds of two-wheelers riders travel to work everyday.”

Welcoming the PCMC initiative,Prashant Inamdar,convenor of Pedestrians First,said the combination of rumbling strips and a larger bump is a unique concept,at least in city areas. “PMC too has put in place rumbling strips at a few spots,but it is difficult to come across the combination PCMC has set up. We would urge PCMC to guage the public mood and replicate it across the industrial town,” he said.

The rumbling strips,said Inamdar,are forewarning for drivers and riders about a larger obstruction ahead. “Once they land on rumbling strips,they realise the need to slow down. As they have slowed down,the larger bump does not inconvenience them,” said Inamdar. Pedestrians First said they have sent several letters to PMC,PCMC and the traffic police for model speed-breakers that do not damage vehicles or kill travellers. “We are happy PCMC has come forward to set an example. At the same time,we request PCMC to provide proper signages,markings and set up a speed-breaker committee.”

In Pimpri-Chinchwad,at least four persons have lost their lives in a year due to what civic activists described as “unwiedly” speed-breakers.