Although the most important measure meant to curb entry of heavy vehicle on Sitabuldi flyover is missing from its place, the unconventional measure adopted by authorities, the construction of speed-breakers on either end is causing severe inconvenience to daily users. After years of slumber, Public Works Department (PWD) officials woke up to affix height barriers for enforcing ban on movement of trucks and other heavy vehicles on the flyover. Apart from that this time, the authorities went for additional measure, they put in rumblers and just after that a speed-breaker, to drive home the message that they are serious in preventing entry of heavy vehicles on the flyover.

 

Though the height barriers went for a toss, courtesy negligent truck drivers, ordinary citizens continue to face daily bumps while hitting the unrequited speed breaker Earlier, construction of rumblers, particularly on Rahate Colony end, was mooted by Traffic Branch and such was its effect that every other vehicle rider, barring the truckers, felt its impact. No thought seems to have gone into laying rumblers or its spot. Particularly, the location of rumblers on Rahate Colony end of flyover, laid just after the traffic signal, was quite wrong as they sprang up just as vehicle riders tend to pick up speed. Particularly, the two-wheeler riders were hit hard and they could not adjust the speed of their vehicles to avoid hitting the rumblers. So in first few days, many of the two-wheeler riders failed to notice the ramblers and tripped, getting badly injured in the process.

 

As criticism mounted, the Traffic Branch hastily directed modifying the slow down measures and PWD removed the rumblers by levelling the roads. However, the speed breaker has remained in place and one can notice traffic snarls as vehicles slow down, causing jam at the entry to flyover ramp. Particularly, the problem is more visible on the Morris Square end, as the placement of speed-breaker is at that junction where two roads converge, one from Kamptee Road and other from Tekdi Road. During peak hours, the vehicles slow down to safely negotiate the speed-breaker, causing pile up at the point, said Ramesh Kumar, a daily road user. Another regular user of flyover, Ravi Madhavan, said, first of all the warning signs about ban on movement of heavy vehicle on flyover is not all visible on either end. Thereafter, in urban places the road conditions should not have unnecessary hurdles, as it unnecessary slows down the traffic, causing unnecessary slowdown and trouble for citizens.

 

Now that height-barriers are gone, the truckers have free entry pass, so why trouble two-wheeler and other smaller vehicular drive with unrequited bumpy rides on the speed-breakers, question the citizens. When contacted Krusha Gharde, Executive Engineer, PWD, World Bank Division, said, they have put up proposal for refixation of height barriers on the flyover, and waiting financial approval. As to speed-breakers, she added, it was idea of Traffic Branch and they are all for continuation of current scenario. At the recent meeting with District Collector, the DCP Traffic Branch, Lohit Matani, wanted status quo as to speed-breakers, saying they are functioning quite well. But for daily commuters, it an unnecessary jolt they have to bear on daily basis without any scientific justification.