Shadow Correspondent
KATHUA AUG 07:
The District Road Safety Committee, keeping up with directions of Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, held its seventh meeting since inception. The districts have been asked to hold quarterly meeting of said committee and it was second meeting of Current Financial Year in Kathua. Held under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Dr. Raghav Langer, the meeting was presented with power point presentation by the Regional Transport Officer, Dr. Raj K. Thapa, who also happen to be Member- Secretary of the District Road Safety Committee. Giving brief outline of Motor Vehicles Department, Kathua, Dr. Thapa informed that the department has conducted 2375 cases of challaning/ spot fine, collecting a sum of Rs. 1.32 crore as fine/ penalty for the year 2018-19 and has conducted 988 cases of challaning/ spot fine, collecting a sum of Rs. 42 lakh as fine from the traffic violators during the current financial year till date. He stated that 18 driving licences have been put on notice for suspension, 13 driving licences have so far been suspended and 01 has been revoked since last one year.
Meanwhile, he stated that 29 Permits have also been put on notice for suspension and 14 fitness certificates have been cancelled in district Kathua. It was meeting of District Road Safety Committee for the second quarter of the year, wherein important agenda items viz. Approval of District Road Safety Action Plan, Implementation of Road Accidents Data Management System (RADMS), Road Safety Auditing, availability of critical care ambulances and trauma hospitals in the district were discussed. In addition, the meeting also approved targets for reducing the accidents and fatalities by 10% every year as envisaged by the Supreme Court Committee on road safety in their Additional Directions issued to all states. It was stated that a target of challaning 225 violators for not wearing helmets, 150 for not wearing seat belts, 35 for using mobile while driving, 20 for offence of drunk and driving, 75 for overloading vehicle, 30 for underage driving shall be achieved in the current financial year to accomplish the target of reducing fatalities/ accidents. In a major decision, the District Road Safety Committee approved the District Road Safety Action Plan of the district Kathua wherein, other targets and objectives to be achieved till 2020 have been delineated in the earlier direction of the Supreme Court Committee on road safety.
Pertinent to mention that District Road Safety Plan involve multiple stake holders in Road Safety viz. Motor Vehicles Department, Traffic, District Police, District Administrative, Education Department, Health Department, PW (R&B) Department and NHAI.
The Chief Medical Officer informed that district Kathua has 3 Critical Care ambulances stationed at Kathua, Billawar and Basohli and the district has a Trauma Centre at Mahanpur in addition to other health care delivery system.
The Chairman directed that the black spots, as defined by the MoRTH, be identified and rectification action taken by the Public Works Department of the state and NHAI/BRO on priority. He also asked for organizing awareness camps in Degree Colleges to sensitize students on helmet wear, non use of mobile while driving and importance on seat belts. He directed the PW(R&B) & PMGSY to re-assess the signages/ crash barriers on various roads and take steps to rectify. In a major decision, the Chairman directed the Revenue authorities to identify 30-35 kanals of land for the Motor Vehicles Department, Kathua for setting up driving/fitness test ground, preferably around the RTO office. The representative of National Highway Authority of India was directed to identify encroachment or any act on part of any person rendering the highway impassable or less safe for travelling and take action as per the Act and seek assistance from the District Administration/ Police, wherever and whenever required. The meeting was also attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Chief Medical Officer, Kathua, Chief Education Officer, Kathua, Executive Engineer, PW(R&B) Division, Kathua/Basohli, Project Director, NHAI, PIU, Jammu, Assistant Commissioner(R), Kathua. Principal, GDC, (B)/ (G) Kathua/ Hiranagar/ Basohli/ Billawar, District Information Officer, Kathua, Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Kathua, E.O., Municipal Committee, Lakhanpur/ Basohli/ Billawar/ Nagri, Representative of BRO.
After the conclusion of District Road Safety Committee, another meeting that of Regional Transport Authority, comprising District Development Commissioner as Chairman, SSP as Member and Regional Transport Officer as Member- Secretary, was also held wherein 114 Permits of Stage Carriage Mini Buses and 4- wheeler autos were approved for various routes of the district Kathua which were having deficient transport facilities. The decision is likely to give a major boost not only to transport facilities but also for generation of employment in the district. During the RTA meeting, the chairman directed the Municipal authorities to identify appropriate location for taxi and auto/ 3- wheeler stands in the Kathua city.
Interacting with the media persons, the chairman of District Road Safety Committee and Regional Transport Authority, Dr. Raghav Langer, IAS appreciated the efforts of Motor Vehicles Department, Kathua in discharging various functions particularly in the field of enforcement of road safety laws; despite challenges like paucity of staff/ equipment etc.
The RTA meeting was also attended by Addl. SSP, Kathua on behalf of SSP Kathua, Executive Engineers of PW(R&B) Department/ PMGSY and CEO of Municipal Council, Kathua.
