Fibre-based speed breakers create risky obstacle course for motorists

Nagpur: Illegal fibre-based speed breakers are being installed across Nagpur in blatant violation of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court orders and well-defined norms laid down by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC). These speed breakers first started showing up in residential lanes and now can be seen on some of the busiest roads and highways. The yellow-and-black fibre speed breakers, which motorists often describe as "back-breakers', have come under criticism for causing discomfort, damaging vehicles and posing safety risks, particularly for two-wheeler riders.The National Highway wing of the Public Works Department (PWD) has installed these speed breakers on the stretch of Amravati Road between Variety Square and Wadi, including near the Nagpur University campus and beneath the Wadi flyover. As per senior PWD official, the suggestion for installing the fibre-based speed breakers came from the Traffic police as part of accident prevention measures at identified black spots. "The rumblers installed earlier proved ineffective. Traditional bitumen speed breakers cannot be laid on a cement road," said the official while justifying the need for fibre-based speed breakers.The official admitted that fibre-based speed breakers are not according to IRC norms but claimed they are necessary to control speeding.Sources in the Traffic Police Department said that since July last year, more than 200 traffic safety interventions, including speed breakers, rumble strips and other calming measures, have been recommended at various black spots across the city. From January 2025 till date, the traffic police have issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for 23 speed breakers.Such fibre speed breakers have become commonplace on Besa Road, Beltarodi Road, Dabha Road, the Ambazari T-point-University Campus stretch, Wardha Road and several other locations.Similar speed-breakers installed near the Narendra Nagar underpass were removed after a senior advocate raised objections regarding their legality and noncompliance with IRC standards.