Surat : SMC Faces Backlash Over Unmarked Speed Breakers Leading to Mishaps

Surat : The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is under fire from residents across the city due to its negligence in properly marking speed breakers, particularly on main roads. The absence of white stripes on these speed breakers has led to a surge in road accidents, causing uproar among motorists and locals alike.

Incidents of road mishaps have been escalating across Surat, directly linked to the lack of adequate markings on speed breakers. Motorists navigating these roads have encountered accidents, attributing the mishaps to the absence of proper visibility owing to the missing white stripes.

In a recent incident in the Puna area of Surat, multiple motorists fell victim to accidents when they inadvertently traversed unmarked speed breakers. The CCTV footage capturing these mishaps has circulated widely on social media platforms, sparking outrage and directing questions at the negligence of the Surat Municipal Corporation authorities and the contracted construction parties.

Indian road safety regulations, as per the Road Safety Act, stipulate specific guidelines for speed breakers. These regulations emphasize the necessity of proper markings, including white stripes, to ensure visibility and warn motorists of road obstacles.

Residents in the Puna area lodged numerous complaints with the Varachha zone authorities, urging the marking of these hazardous speed breakers. However, their appeals seemingly went unheard. Frustrated by the inaction, residents of Puna took matters into their own hands and voluntarily initiated the process of marking the speed breakers with white stripes, bearing the expenses themselves.

Rajesh Patel, a resident of Puna, expressed dismay, stating, “Despite our continuous complaints to the Varachha zone for the past 10 days, no action has been taken regarding the hazardous speed breaker. Several commuters have suffered accidents due to this negligence. To aid fellow commuters, we’ve opted to mark the speed breaker ourselves.”

This incident in Puna is not an isolated occurrence. Numerous unmarked speed breakers across the city pose similar risks to road users. In many instances, contractors have constructed speed breakers without adhering to the specifications outlined in the Road Safety Act, amplifying the dangers associated with these road obstacles.