J-K Guv okays draft Road Safety Policy, to invite public views

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today approved the draft Road Safety Policy of the state which would now be put in public domain for suggestions from all the common people.
"To elicit views and comments from road users and people at large, the Governor has directed the Chief Secretary to put the draft Road Safety Policy in the public domain through print and electronic media, by February 10," an official spokesperson said.
"The last date of receiving comments and views from various stakeholders and people will be February 29," he said.
The Governor has directed that all views and suggestions received should be critically examined by the Transport Department and put up to him through the Advisor.

"The salient features of the Policy include, establishing Centre of Excellence across the state to create capacity in road safety research, raising awareness among key decision makers, stakeholders and NGOs to facilitate them in planning and promoting road safety," he said.
Implementation of road safety initiatives, creating a network of Trauma Health Care facilities on National Highways and State Highways are included in it.

The other features include dedicated funding for road safety initiatives and prevention of accidents, establishment of safe transport infrastructure and stringent enforcement of traffic laws and regulations, the spokesperson said.
He said Vohra had expressed regret over the failure to take action within the clear time frame which he had fixed for implementation of Road Safety Action Plan after a high level meeting on February 14 last year.

The Governor has also reiterated, with immediate effect, it will be mandatory for all new road projects to be vetted by the Design Directorate to ensure that road safety features are duly incorporated and directed Safety Audit of the existing roads in a time bound manner.
Further, every enforcement agency should sternly deal with all cases of overloading and other traffic violations and no unfit vehicle should be allowed to ply on the roads under any circumstances, Vohra said.
The Governor told the Director General of Police and the Inspector General of Police, Traffic, to enforce strictly the measures to check overloading, speeding and carry out verification of bus and truck drivers to ascertain whether they are trained to ply vehicles in hilly areas.