The speed hump of international specifications being put up at Vyttila Mobility Hub fails to serve its purpose due to the absence of a second hump to modulate speed. Put up to keep a tab on the speeding private buses, it will be of no use unless a second hump is constructed to curb the speed of the reckless ‘red killers’ before it enters the bus bay, said commuters.
Now, there is enough distance between the bus bay and the hump for vehicles to accelerate, pointed out passengers. “The hump is positioned in such a way that there is ample distance for the private buses to easily revert to the speed of 50 or 60 km/hr. So what is the point of constructing a hump of international specifications,” asks Suresh, a regular passenger at the Hub.
Though there is a strict mandate that the speed should be kept as low as 5 km per hour when buses take a deviation to enter the bus bay from Kaniyampuzha junction, the private buses hardly abide by it and rush precariously into the crowded bus bay.
Recently, Kerala Human Rights Commission J B Koshy issued a directive to remove all the unscientific speed humps to maintain the safety standards across the state. As per the stipulation, the hump has to be clearly marked and painted either in white and black or yellow and black to make it noticeable from a distance. A sign board should indicate the presence of the hump, which is almost absent across the state, thus leading to accidents and injury to motorists. The drivers are least bothered about reducing the speed while passing crossing the unscientific humps.
Surprisingly, at a time when safe driving on the roads across the state is hampered by unscientific speed humps, the hump constructed at the hub is perhaps one among the rare ones that comply with international specifications.
Simon, Executive Engineer, Vyttila Mobility Hub, said that they decided to stick to one hump after holding consultations with the Police and KITCO. “It has been found that one hump is enough to check the speed of the buses.
The work of the first speed hump is yet to be finished and we are also thinking of attaching a reflector on it,” he said. But the possibility of a second hump could always be reconsidered, he stated.