District Road Safety Committee meet held at Kathua

Steps afoot to improve traffic regulation, minimizing accident rate: DC  

KATHUA, November 24: A meeting of the District Road Safety Committee was held today under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rakesh Minhas here in the DC office complex.

 At the outset, XEN PWD(R&B) Kathua who is also the Member Secretary of the Road Safety Committee briefed the meeting about the headway achieved in implementing the road safety measures decided in the last meeting.

It was given out in the meeting that a total of 86 awareness events were held in the district to sensitize people about road safety measures required to be adhered while driving vehicles besides acquainting them to be well versed with traffic sign boards and traffic regulations.

Special awareness drives were also held for Drivers and school and college students with active participation of NCC and NSS volunteers.

The GREF authorities apprised the meeting that a total of over 700 meters of vulnerable spots are manned through crash barriers on Basohli-Bani stretch whereas 300 meters span of crash barriers were installed in Billawar. 

 Threadbare discussions were held with respect to enforcement of Traffic rules, action taken regarding road safety and road safety audit etc.

While discussing the traffic regulation scenario in Kathua town, the DC directed Motor Vehicle Department, Police and Kathua MC to identify dedicated stands/points for Auto and e-rickshaws so that unwanted road occupancy can be discouraged besides plying of smooth traffic can be ensured. 

Underscoring the importance of effective implementation of measures to make the roads safe for travelling, the DC said all stakeholders should work in synergy to minimize road mishaps in the district. He called for spreading mass awareness about the safety rules and taking corrective measures to make the roads safe for commuters.

The DC informed that slew of measures including installation of proper Road Studs, rerouting of traffic, removal of encroachments and Traffic regulations enforcement drives to be taken up to improve the Road Safety Scenario in the district.

 The DC directed the XEN PWD (R&B) Kathua to speed up the task of installing road signages at appropriate locations to mark parking points, government offices, Schools, no parking zone etc.

 PWD(R&B) was also directed to ensure regular maintenance of the roads to avoid road accidents besides identifying the black spots and taking corrective measures in accident prone areas by fixing speed limits and Crash barriers. 

 The meeting also discussed issues ranging from installation of traffic lights, installation of kiosks for traffic police, encroachments and menace of stray animals and further impressing upon concerned officers to submit action taken report at the earliest.

RTO Kathua, CMO, District Education Planning Officer, Executive Engineer PWD (R&B), AEE PWD (R&B) Basohli, representative of Degree Colleges, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and other members were present.