Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 5: The public may be facing inconveniences and disturbances on account of the highway widening work between Suratkal and Kundapur, progress of which has been painstakingly slow and chaotic, but the police have problem with the work for a different reason altogether.

It is learnt that inspector of traffic police station (north), Manjunath, has served notice to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), objecting to the manner in which sign boards are being put up at various places on this stretch of the national highway, duly throwing all traffic norms to winds.

As per the instructions of the highways department, Navayuga company, which is executing highway widening work, has put up boards specifying speed limit of vehicles at various spot. Sign boards which specify speed limit of 100 km for vehicles have become the bone of contention between these two departments.

As per the rules governing transport sector, cargo vehicles and heavy vehicles carrying passengers have to move on national highways within the speed limit of 40 km per hour, the police say. Two-wheelers can gain speed up to 60 km per hour, while other vehicles can travel at 65 km per hour. The police have provided documents to prove their claim on speed limit rules to the department of highways, it is learnt. The police notice has sought to know reasons for suddenly coming up with sign boards about speed limits without holding consultation with the police department.

In response, the highways department has suddenly covered the sign boards all along this stretch of national highway. It is being widely felt that NHAI should have discussed the issue with at least the traffic police before setting up these sign boards.

The traffic police, who have been at the receiving end of the erratic functioning style of the highway widening work undertaken by NHAI, have largely brought the situation under control in spite of paucity of staff. As per records, over 200 have lost their lives after the widening work was undertaken on this part of the highway. NHAI has been sounded through this notice about the danger posed by increasing the speed limit unreasonably, which has the potential of increasing loss of lives manifold.