Haryana Partners with IIT-Madras for Enhanced Road Safety Using Data
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Haryana government has signed a two-year agreement with IIT-Madras to enhance road safety through data-driven strategies. This collaboration aims to utilize the 'Sanjaya' platform for better accident data visualization and targeted interventions.
Key Takeaways
- Collaboration with IIT-Madras for road safety
- ‘Sanjaya’ platform used for data visualization
- Working group for implementing road safety strategies
- Decline in fatalities due to new safety measures
- Cashless treatment policy for accident victims
Chandigarh, April 3 (NationPress) The Haryana government has officially announced an extension of its partnership with IIT-Madras by entering into a two-year agreement focused on data-driven road safety interventions.
The agreement was revealed in the presence of Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi and Prof Venkatesh Balasubramanian, who leads the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS) at IIT-Madras.
This collaboration utilizes tools such as the ‘Sanjaya’ platform, which was previously introduced in the state, to visualize accident data and strategize targeted interventions.
Also present at the event were Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) Ashok Khemka, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Sudhir Rajpal, Transport Commissioner Dusmanta Kumar Behera, and senior officials from various departments.
During discussions on road safety measures, Rastogi advocated for the establishment of a working group to execute actionable strategies, stressing the necessity to save lives lost in road incidents.
He instructed the Transport and Health Departments to devise a comprehensive roadmap for upgrading trauma centers, especially close to highways, to enhance emergency response.
The meeting revealed that due to safety strategies implemented by the government, there has been a noticeable decline in road accident fatalities in the state since 2022, with overspeeding identified as the primary cause of these deaths.
In response, the government is improving monitoring and electronic challaning through CCTV cameras on major highways.
Rastogi emphasized the urgency of swift hospital transfers for accident victims and better coordination among police, medical, and transport departments.
The discussions highlighted the ‘5 Es’ of road safety – education, engineering, enforcement, emergency care, and empathy - as essential pillars for reducing fatalities.
Key strategies include promoting behavioral change, leveraging technology, and enhancing police training.
The government has initiated a policy for cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for seven days for road accident victims, provided the police are notified within 24 hours of the incident.
