Assam Chief Minister Conducts Review Meeting on Road Safety
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Guwahati, Dec 24 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, convened a video conference on Tuesday with District Commissioners, Police Superintendents, and officials from the Transport and Excise Departments. The focus was on evaluating road accidents within the state, enforcing road safety regulations, and reviewing initiatives taken by the Transport and Police Departments to reduce such occurrences.
During the discussions, the Transport and Police Departments shared insights into the factors leading to road accidents in various districts, including incidents of driving under the influence of alcohol, particularly in Guwahati.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for strict actions to be implemented statewide by January 15 to deter driving after alcohol consumption, especially after 10 p.m.
He also directed relevant departments to enhance lighting at foot over-bridges and flyovers.
The conference further addressed the challenge of accidents occurring on rural roads.
He instructed the Chief Secretary to ensure the installation of speed breakers near schools, hospitals, and police stations.
CM Sarma mandated that two speed breakers be constructed within every kilometer of rural roads, stressing that their positioning and design should be decided in collaboration with local villagers.
Additionally, he urged the Chief Secretary to publish a Standard Operating Procedure for this undertaking and highlighted the necessity of integrating streetlights, speed breakers, and signboards into road construction projects.
Special instructions were issued to Police Superintendents of border districts regarding vehicle entry.
He insisted that roadside eateries (dhabas) along national highways provide adequate parking facilities and prohibited the parking of trucks in front of these establishments.
The CM tasked the Chief Secretary with ensuring that district commissioners and police superintendents enforce these regulations.
In a bid to raise public awareness about government-issued road safety regulations, CM Sarma directed the relevant authorities to disseminate this information through digital platforms in various languages.
He also called for preventive measures to prevent vehicles from leaving for picnic spots before dawn and mandated action against drivers under the influence of alcohol.
The Chief Minister emphasized the necessity of sufficient police monitoring at picnic sites and maintaining cleanliness at these locations.
Furthermore, he requested the involvement of district commissioners to ensure the installation of warning signs in hazardous areas and effective management of human resources.
It was also mandated that district commissioners present road safety videos at government meetings, with instructions for the Chief Secretary to collect data on districts that have not adhered to this directive and take corrective measures within the current year.
