Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, 23 July : The Transport Minister, Punjab, Ajit Singh Kohar, today presided over a high level Punjab State Road Safety Council meeting. Discussing the ways and means to reduce the ‘Road Accidental Deaths’ in the state the Minister said that the reducing the increasing deaths due to road accidents was the call of the hour.
The Minister said that the council has decided that the PWD department should construct roads/ repair the old ones under the Work Zone Traffic Zone Management Plans IRC:SP:54-2014. The highways and link roads where a new road is laid out or a repair is being carried out, that portion is closed for traffic which is diverted to another lane haphazardly thereby causing mishaps.
The Minister further said that council has also discussed the cyclists’ security issue with Bureau of Indian Standard (B.I.S.) in which change of cycle black colour was discussed so that they could be identified at night on the road. Reflector Taps should be compulsory on the cycles also.
Mr. Kohar said that it was also decided torun a campaign in accordance with which, the parents and school managements must be made to understand the hazards of overloading of school buses. He said that if any bus transports children more than its capacity then the police/transport department must be informed. Strict instructions were issued to police and transport department to act severly against the persons driving under the influence of alcohol.
Besides this, directions were issued to seek compliance report from the PWD (B & R) regarding laying rumble strip on the link roads connecting with main roads.
In the matter of removing black spots from the roads, the Punjab Roads and Bridges Development Board informed that the their department has identified and removed 140 black spots. It was Directions were given to the Education Department for the inclusion of the Road Safety matter in 6th and 10th class syllabus.
During the meeting, it was also decided to seek Chief Engineer , Local Bodies and Chief Engineer, PWD and instructions concerning this were issued to Transport Department.
Informing further the Minister said that the council has also directed the Police and Transport Department to remove the Pressure Horns from Government/Private Buses otherwise the concerned vehicle owner would be challaned. It was also decided to take action against the driver under motor vehicle act rules framed under it. He also directed the concerned district administration to check the overloaded tractor trollies which causes the accidents.
The Meeting was also attended by the representatives of the various departments.
