Chandigarh, February 28- Achieving a milestone towards creating traffic awareness amongst the people around 5000 residents of the city today vowed to wear helmet while driving the two-wheelers, in the presence of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Mr. Suresh Arora and Lok Sabha member Chaudhary Santokh Singh as a part of traffic awareness campaign.
Addressing the gathering during a helmet awareness campaign, the Director General of Police said that this was a noble initiative, which would go a long way in making the people aware on this sensitive issue. He said that this was the need of the hour to save the lives of people.
Congratulating the youth which had gathered in thousands, the DGP said it a proud moment for Punjab that a message on importance of helmet was originating from Jalandhar and spreading in whole world with this record attempt of maximum number of people wearing helmets. On the occasion thousands of persons gathered at the venue wearing helmets to spread the message.
Mr. Arora said that due to sustained efforts made by the Punjab Police the incidence of accidental deaths in the state has come down sharply by 16%. He said that this has resulted in decline of 11% person in injured persons in the state and saving of roughly 4000 precious lives. Mr. Arora said that acting strictly against the violators of traffic in the state the Punjab Police has also issued challans to around 7 lakh erring people and recovered Rs 42 crore as penalty from them.
The DGP also said that concerted efforts need to be made for making campaign against traffic violation, a mass movement. He said that in such scenario media and people could jointly play an important role. Mr. Arora also expressed happiness over the participation of large number of youth in this mega event.
In his address Lok Sabha member Chaudhary Santokh Singh said that such efforts must be replicated in every nook and corner of the state. Chaudhary Santokh Singh, while announcing a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the college, also said that he would support every such endeavour aimed at protecting life of people.
The Punjab Police joined in campaign and both the organizations distributed more than 8000 helmets.
On the occasion, Additional Director General of Police Mr. Gaurav Yadav and Dr. Sharad Satya Chauhan, Inspector General of Police Mr. Arpit Shukla, Commissioner of Police Mr. Praveen Kumar Sinha and others were also present.