A hump with light reflectors and (below) a signage to alert drivers on speed breaker ahead on a road in Cuttack. Telegraph pictures

Cuttack, Nov. 24: The traffic management committee has sought intervention of Orissa High Court to standardise speed breakers in roads across the city to ensure that these conform to the guidelines of the Indian Road Congress.

Cuttack assistance commissioner of police (traffic) Pradeep Kumar Dalai has filed an affidavit in the high court on behalf of the committee.

In his affidavit, Dalai has sought the court’s direction to all the road-owning agencies — the roads and building department, irrigation department and Cuttack Municipal Corporation — to construct speed breakers “as per design approved by the Indian Road Congress”.

Advocate Kanhayalal Sharma, a resident of the city, had alleged before the high court bench adjudicating on civic problems in Cuttack, that speed breakers had been constructed in the city without following the Indian Road Congress guidelines.

Subsequently, on direction of the high court, Sharma made a presentation before the traffic management committee regarding specification of speed-breakers.

The road congress had made specifications for road humps with central heights rising up to 10cm, width up to 3.5m 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 erected to warn drivers — one at 20 to 30 metres and another 10 metres ahead of the humps made of premixed bituminous material.

In his affidavit, Dalai said the traffic management committee had initiated construction of humps near Sunshine ground and at Khannagar, following the road congress guidelines.

The division bench of Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice S.C. Parija had set November 21 to hear the traffic management committee’s plea. But the matter could not be taken up because the scheduled sitting of the bench was not held.

Cuttack regional transport officer Dipti Ranjan Patra has also filed an identical affidavit concerning the speed-breakers in the high court.

Around 50 speed breakers have been constructed in different parts of the city. In most places, readymade hard rubber/plastic speed-breakers and humps have been installed.

“The readymade ones cost around Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 for covering a road at one location and they get damaged easily. The humps made of premix bituminous material cost around Rs 10,000,” said the transport department’s standing counsel Jaydeep Pal, who is also member of the traffic management committee.

Maintenance of speed breakers is crucial. They must be repaired regularly and dust or mud should be removed from either side, Indian Road Congress guidelines say.