Repair potholes to reduce road accidents: Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya

Transport Minister directs NHAI, NHIDCL, PWD

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Poor condition of roads is one of the main factors behind road accidents in the State. In a bid to prevent road mishaps and loss of lives due to poorly-maintained national highways and roads, State Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya has directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) and Public Works Department (National Highway) to repair potholes.

The minister also asked the officials about the status of identification and rectification of black spots (accident-prone spots) on national highways. He reviewed the status of setting up trauma centres along the national highways to reduce the number of road accident fatalities. Hospitals near national highways should be equipped with basic health facilities for accident management and in areas where there is no hospital or health centre nearby, trauma centres must be set up. In this regard, he sought a report from the State Health Department.

A meeting of the State Road Safety Council (SRSC) of Assam was held today in the Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati. In the meeting, the minister sought suggestions from different departments regarding controlling over-speeding in the State. He directed the Panchayat and Rural Development Department to conduct awareness among people at the gaon panchayat level in coordination with the respective District Transport Officers (DTOs).

Suklabaidya advised the council to primarily focus on 'Men-to-Men' contact to make road safety awareness reach everyone. Road signages should be put up in Assamese across the roads of the State for better understanding by drivers. He directed NHAI to expedite the organizing of awareness camps on a more regular basis. The Member Secretary of SRSC was directed to monitor the functioning of interceptor vehicles and assure that the vehicles cover rural areas too.

The minister asked the Transport Department to jointly coordinate with Assam Police to ensure strict vigilance over the wearing of helmets and speeding of vehicles. The SRSC was also suggested to allot interceptor vehicles to Assam Police. It was further suggested in the meeting that support staff should be inducted into the District Road Safety Committees to ensure better coordination between the State-level and district-level committees. Breath analyzers will be allotted to the Excise Department.

The minister directed the Excise Department to deploy staff on the roads to ensure strict checking and lawful action against drunk driving. He advised the SRSC to design vehicles with road safety messages and audio-visual systems so that these vehicles could act as mobile awareness vehicles across the State.

The State Transport Department has also collaborated with IIT, Guwahati and nominated the institution as the knowledge partner to the department. IIT, Guwahati will facilitate the department in research works on road data and introduce new technologies to avoid road accidents.

The minister also held a meeting with IIT, Guwahati officials to discuss the proposed Road Safety Conclave to be organized by the Transport Department and IIT, Guwahati.

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