New Delhi: Aiming to ensure smoother and hassle-free traffic movement, especially at toll plazas, the NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) has initiated a drive to remove all kinds of speed breakers from National Highways. An official release said that speed breakers/ rumble strips constructed at toll plazas are being removed with immediate effect for smooth vehicular movement.
Roads of different categories under different situations are designed for designated speeds at which vehicles can travel with convenience and safety. At certain locations, control of speed becomes necessary to promote orderly traffic movement and improve safety, the release said.
"Considering the fact that National Highways are designed to cater to high-speed traffic without any hindrance, the drive to remove speed breakers from national highways under the jurisdiction of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) (has been started)," the release said.
The speed breakers result in considerable delay, damage to the vehicles and significant discomfort to vehicle occupants and more fuel consumption due to acceleration and deceleration.
This initiative will save time, money and facilitate smooth vehicular movement, especially for ambulances, elderly and unwell people commuting on National Highways. In the larger context, this will also ensure avoidable wastage of transportation fuel for which country is heavily import-dependent, and will also result in lesser pollution.
Electronic Toll Collection through FASTag has been implemented from December 15, 2019 to provide commotion-free movement on highways. The positive effects of ETC are being realised by commuters on toll plazas. In December, Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, had said that the FASTag initiative has picked up in a big way as more than 1 crore tags have been issued. The transactions per day have crossed 2 million, with over Rs 80 crore collection happening through the digital mode.
"Introduction of speed breaker-free highways is another step in commitment to provide a safe, smooth and seamless journey to commuters on National Highways," the release added.
