Andhra Pradesh High Court Directs State To Ensure Compliance Of Guidelines On 'Speed Breaker' Specifications

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Ravi Cheemalapati observed,

“In case there is any new guideline issued by the concerned Ministry either in the Central Government or the Indian Road Congress, which is required to be followed, the same be followed and a circular be issued to all the concerned to not only ensure that the new guidelines are followed in letter and spirit and also to ensure the existing speed breakers are brought in conformity to the new guidelines.”

The Court was dealing with a PIL filed by Thandava Yogesh raising the issue that the speed breakers on roads other than National Highways were not in conformity with the guidelines prescribed by the Indian Road Congress (IRC) or the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana— which specified a minimum width of 3.7 meters, with height 10 cms and radius 17 meters for speed breakers.

The PIL further indicated that the IRC had prescribed speed breakers to be highlighted by reflective paint, which was also conspicuously absent, which posed a concerning safety hazard for vehicles and two-wheeler drivers. The PIL stated that on an annual basis, a large number of deaths occur owing to faulty speed breakers constructed either by State Authorities, Roads and Buildings Department and Public Works Department or by some private persons/entities.

The court was told that earlier a memo, dated 25.02.2025 was issued by the Chief Engineer (R & B), SH & Managing Director, APRDC, Vijayawada, informing all the Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and others to identify the illegal speed breakers on all State Highways, Major District Roads and Other District Roads and remove the defective speed breakers or rectify them to the standards prescribed by the Indian Road Congress

As it was informed that there had been some change in the specifications as per the new guidelines, the Court accordingly directed adherence to the same and rectification of existing speed breakers in constance with the new guidelines.

The PIL was accordingly disposed of.

Case Number: WP(PIL) NO: 76 of 2025

Case Title: Thandava Yogesh Vs. The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others

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