Negligence, improper work and lack of proper plan implementation have led to a bumpy ride along the National highway 66.
Besides, the existence of too many badly-designed and ill-maintained speed-breakers on the highway from Polem right up to Margao has resulted in many fatal accidents.
A close scrutiny will reveal about 30 poorly-designed speed-breakers on this stretch from Polem in Canacona up to Margao in Salcete, where on an average there is one speed-breaker every 2 kms where speed-breakers are not maintained by the concerned authorities.
In fact, there are no visible paint markings, nor sign boards to alert the road users about the speed-breakers ahead. In fact many a time, the very speed-breakers installed to ensure safety become the cause of accident, some of which have been fatal.
Local activists have brought this to the notice of the authorities, but no action has been taken so far.
Many local businessmen who have shifted their residence to Margao for various reasons travel to the taluka daily, using the road and the speed-breakers. Many seem very uncomfortable with the speed-breakers and have also reported of back pain and neck problems.
Many also are eagerly awaiting the PWD to replace them with rumbler strips as per the specifications laid down by Indian Road Congress (IRC).
Social activist Abhijit Prabhudesai points out that as per high court judgement pronounced in March 2005, the speed breakers should be installed as per the standards set by the IRC and the ones that do not comply with the specifications should be removed. However, one can still see the badly designed humps on the road exposing commuters to hazards.
Acccording to the IRC guidelines, a perfect speed breaker ideally should have a height of 10 cm with a 1.5 metre ramp on both sides and painted with alternate black and white markings. Luminous paint is recommended for better visibility at night, besides signboards warning motorists should be placed 40 metres before speed breakers.
IRC also makes the maintenance of speed breakers compulsory and speed-breakers built without the prescribed norms can be dangerous and cause various health hazards. “The spinal cord is vulnerable to damage in case of a sudden jerk due to improper speed breakers. It can also cause vertebral compression fractures or a disk prolapse. We are against building highways close to settlements and have made our stand clear that this highways should be at least 3 kms away from the villages or towns in which case the need for a speed breaker will not arise” he adds.
RTI activist Pradeep Mokhardakar said that at some places the humps are so big that it brushes against and damages the lower portion of vehicles, specially cars.
The NH66 is an important link between North and South India on the western side of India and the NH portion between Margao and Polem is used by innumerable outstation private, tourists and public vehicles from various states on a daily basis and with improper design, unpainted and missing sign boards pose a serious hazard on the roads.
Sources at local highway office said that the estimates to denotify and remove or replace the speed breakers with rumbler strips is sent for approval to the higher authorities and is pending clearance.
