Chandra Mohan Patowary advocates strong enforcement of traffic rules to reduce fatalities

Road Safety Week begins across Assam

GUWAHATI: The State Transport Department started the 31st National Road Safety Week observation centrally at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara, Guwahati on Saturday. The Road Safety Week will be observed till January 17 across the country. This year’s theme by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is ‘Bringing Change through Youth Power’.

Addressing the gathering, Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary called upon all the stakeholders to dedicate quality services while discharging duties on road safety. ‘In this direction, transport officials must enforce vehicles prioritizing on road safety only’, the Minister added.

The Minister also asked the department officials to conduct refreshment course for drivers. ‘There must be a mid-point driver’s station so that sleep-driven drivers can alter drivers for long journeys to prevent accidents.’

Minister Patowary advocated the idea of planting a sapling on purchase of a new vehicle to maintain the ecological balance. He said that SEBA has already introduced a chapter on road safety in high school level for sensitizing students.

Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department, Dr KK Dwivedi, stated that 7,648 accidents equivalent to 21 accidents per day, 2,941 fatalities equivalent to 8 fatalities per day and 6,901 injuries equivalent to 19 persons per day occurred in Assam in 2019. ‘The Transport Department will soon institutionalize Path Suraksha Bahini – volunteers as first respondents during accidents and will conduct residential training for them.’ In this context, Minister Patowary distributed identity cards to 5 such volunteers of Kamrup (Metro) district.

Commissioner, Transport, Adil Khan mentioned that life and death is not in our hands, but road safety measures are surely in our hands which will go a long way in ensuring safety on the roads.

Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro)-cum-Chairperson, District Road Safety Committee, said that road safety week must be observed not only for a week by throughout the year to reduce fatalities.

Regional Officer, NHAI (NE), Alok Kumar said that signages, markings, rumble strips, solar blinkers have been installed at accident-prone spots on the national highways. He requested the public not to damage the metal crash barrier in the dividers as it helps in preventing accidents in the median openings.

A street play was also staged to mark the observance of 31st National Road Safety Week. AP Tiwari, MD, ASTC; Razvee Hussain, Secretary, Transport and Pabitra Khaund, Director, IW; DTOs Gautam Das and Arun Bora were present at the meeting, a press release said.

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