Jammu, Dec 9: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday directed the officials to formulate robust and resilient Standard Operating Procedure (SoPs) to examine vehicle fitness and issuance of driving licenses.
LG Sinha also directed the officials for efficient implementation of stringent deterrence, penal actions against violators. He gave these directions while chairing a meeting to discuss various issues related to road safety at the Civil Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor passed important directions for road safety measures, and suggested various mechanisms to reduce traffic accidents and improve the response system.
“Road accidents are a major threat to people’s well being. Focus should be on measures that are effective in preventing fatalities. Safer roads should be the prime objective of concerned stakeholders and coordinated efforts are required to defeat this third leading cause of death worldwide. Enforcement is a significant and effective way of preventing and reducing accidents, deaths and injuries. Best practice in enforcement of traffic violations should be adopted. Evaluate the enforcement on a regular basis,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
“The senior officers of Transport and Traffic departments must monitor all aspects of road safety on priority and there has to be effective coordination of all departments in this endeavour,” LG Sinha observed.
“Carry out an audit of all crash barriers. Make calendars for Traffic Police officials and engineers of the Transport department to conduct visits to check unauthorised roads cuts and diversions made illegally,” he directed the officers.
On being apprised about the installation of CCTV cameras on National Highways by the National Highways Authority of India, the Lieutenant Governor asked the NHAI officials to carry out the task on all NHs of UT within a predefined time frame.
The Lieutenant Governor also passed explicit directions to concerned officials for conducting safety audits of all major and internal roads at the earliest. He called for ensuring enforcement of safety laws and generating greater awareness among all stakeholders including drivers, transporters and youth. “Involve School Education and Higher Education Departments for spreading the message of road safety,” he added.
Divisional Commissioners were directed to take strict measures for removal of all encroachment from roads including hoardings that create barriers for safe driving. The Lieutenant Governor asked the Traffic police to put a crackdown on over-speeding and ensure regular highway patrolling. Installation of road signages and speed limits boards should be given special focus, he added.
Health department was instructed to explore the possibility of developing trauma centres facilities, if required anywhere. Directions were also passed on adopting digital and automated systems and ensuring optimal utilisation of the existing equipment and digital technology installed on Highways and roads.
The Lieutenant Governor further called for replicating the best models in the country for developing a robust system of audit of accidents.
G Prasanna Ramaswamy, Administrative Secretary, Transport Department presented the Action-Taken Report on the directions of the previous meeting and in-depth analysis of road safety components and proposals.
Vikramjit Singh, IGP Traffic apprised the chair of the measures adopted and checks put in place to implement all road safety measures in letter and spirit.
Discussion was also held on identification of black spots and ensuing measures and proper functioning of District Road Safety Committees established in all districts, and rationalization of the staff of Motor Vehicle Department.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor; Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary Dilbag Singh, DGP; Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary, H&UDD; Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department; H Rajesh Prasad, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department; Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Pandurang K Pole, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Vijay Kumar, ADGP Kashmir; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Rahul Yadav, Commissioner JMC, besides other senior officers from Traffic Police and UT administration attended the meeting and also gave their respective inputs and analysis.