Chandigarh: Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has set a target for the department to reduce accident fatalities by 50%.
Chairing a key meeting of the Punjab Road Safety Committee here, the Cabinet minister informed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had advised the department to reduce the death rate as every life counts. He said the Chief Minister was deeply concerned that 14 people were dying in road accidents in the state every day, saying that drastic action should be prioritized to reduce the death rate.
“Three out of 10 lives could be saved directly through rapid and escalated emergency medical services,” the cabinet secretary directed health department officials to further improve emergency and trauma care across the state. He said five secondary trauma care centers have been set up in Khanna, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka through which the lives of traffic accident victims can be saved after filling vacant posts.
Apart from this, it was also decided that all the emergency response services in the state like NHAI (1033), Department of Transportation (112), Department of Health (108) etc. will be brought together on one platform through one app for open friendlies.
Likewise, the transport minister directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Ministry of Public Works, Punjab Mandi Commission and local government departments to prioritize rectification of black spots. It was also decided to conduct a special 15-day training course for civil engineers from all relevant sectors to develop new methods to overcome this situation.
Decided that all road owning agencies such as NHAI, PWD, Punjab Mandi Board and local government departments will install road signs at the entrances and exits of expressways, especially in road accident-prone areas, within the next two months and take action hereby Minister of Transport Will review this.
The Cabinet Minister directed ADGP (Traffic) Mr. Amarjit Singh Rai to ensure that traffic rules are enforced, besides making car owners/drivers carrying straws aware of adverse effects such as accidents. Instructing Transport Ministry officials to write to all SDMs to keep violators checked, the cabinet minister said that it should be ensured that downgoing iron bars are installed behind heavy vehicles and vehicles carrying steel bars. He also directed a special campaign to install reflective tapes on tractor trolleys, three-wheelers and two-wheelers during this foggy season. All SDM and traffic police personnel will participate in this special event.
The Minister of Transport has directed Mr. Vikas Garg, the Minister of Transport, to write to all Deputy Commissioners of the State on the occasion of Republic Day, 26 January, in recognition of those who have assisted the victims of road accidents.
The minister asked the local government departments to pay maximum attention to the construction of pedestrian and cycle lanes along urban roads as directed by the Supreme Court of India.
DigiLocker files should be recognized: transport secretary
Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has directed ADGP (Department of Transport) drivers to produce DigiLocker documents, which should be recognized. He said traffic police should identify online documents kept in the government’s DigiLocker given the worldwide chip shortage that has delayed the issuance of licenses and registration certificates for chip-based smart cards.
During the meeting, Mr. Vikas Garg, Minister of Transport, Mr. R. Venkat Ratnam, Director General of Governing Bodies, Mr. Moneesh Kumar, State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. AS Rai, ADGP (Transportation) and NHAI, PWD, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab Mandi Committee, School Education Officials were also present.
