Cuttack, March 26: Orissa High Court has issued notice to the state government for alleged violation of Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines in construction of speed breakers and ramblers.

While registering a public interest litigation filed by one Loknath Rout, 46, a resident of Balabhadrapur in Cuttack, the court issued the notice seeking an explanation regarding why the works and irrigation departments were installing PVC or plastic ramblers and speed breakers, which are neither approved nor constructed as per IRC guidelines.

The division bench of acting Chief Justice Pradip Mohanty and Justice Biswajit Mohanty, before which the petition came up yesterday, posted the matter for hearing after two weeks along with the response from the government.

The court accordingly issued notices to the secretaries of the works and irrigation departments to explain why speed breakers and ramblers were being installed without adhering to IRC guidelines and that too at a higher price.

In his petition, Rout has also alleged that PVC or plastic speed breakers and ramblers were being installed at a higher price. 'The cost of plastic ramblers and speed breakers are between Rs 35,000 and Rs 45,000 for a single road. The cost is double if it is a two-lane road. But if ramblers or speed breakers are constructed as per the IRC guidelines (premix bitumen material), then the cost would be between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000,' the petition read.

'Besides, the ramblers and speed breakers have to be changed or replaced in two to three months and most importantly they are neither approved nor constructed as per IRC guidelines,' it read.

According to the petition, speed breakers and ramblers are artificial ridge set crosswise on the street, parking lot or driveway to enable people to drive at a slow speed.

The IRC has made specifications for road humps with central heights up to 10cm, width up to 3.5metre and length same as the road. The speed breakers should be painted with alternate black and white bands to give additional visual warning. For better night visibility, it is desirable that the markings are in luminous paint or luminous strips. Two signboards should be set up to warn drivers - one at 20 to 30 metres and another 10 metres ahead of the speed humps.

The petition also alleged that the state government had not implemented an order issued by the high court on September 23, 2013, for construction of speed breakers and ramblers in the roads near schools for safety of children.