The Transport Department and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have developed a comprehensive strategy to enhance road safety and reduce accidents and fatalities.
This joint initiative focuses on identifying accident-prone ‘black spots’ and improving the emergency response time for road accident victims by connecting ambulances to the nearest trauma care centres or hospitals. During a recent meeting chaired by Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan, it was proposed that NHAI ambulances stationed at toll plazas be tagged with the closest trauma care centres. This tagging is intended to streamline emergency responses during road accidents, ensuring that victims receive timely medical attention. Mohan urged NHAI to share detailed accident reports and updates on road safety measures, including the rectification of identified black spots. This data-sharing is crucial for monitoring progress and pinpointing gaps in existing road safety initiatives.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the agreement to exchange bulk data on vehicles captured by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at various NHAI toll plazas. This data will be utilised to issue e-challans and collect government revenues from vehicles violating traffic laws. The enforcement of such penalties aims to deter traffic violations, particularly by overloaded vehicles, which pose a high risk of accidents and cause substantial road damage by exceeding axle load limits. To address the issue of overloaded and offending vehicles, the meeting proposed the establishment of designated ‘Lay-by’ areas. These areas will enable state Motor Vehicle (MV) enforcement agencies to take necessary actions against violators of MV Acts and Rules. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the enforcement of road safety regulations.
Both the Transport Department and NHAI have appointed nodal officers to oversee the implementation of these measures. Debasis Das will represent NHAI, while Deputy Director of Enforcement Partha Mukherjee will represent the Transport Department. These officers will coordinate efforts to ensure the successful execution of the joint strategy. This collaboration between the Transport Department and NHAI underscores a proactive approach to mitigating road accidents and fatalities. By focusing on critical areas such as accident-prone spots and timely medical response, the strategy aims to create safer road environments for all users.
