Traffic Suraksha Enforcers help in curbing road accidents in Hailakandi

Sept.19: Traffic Suraksha Enforcers in Hailakandi have helped in curbing traffic mishaps and fatalities on roads. The Hailakandi district administration and district transport authorities felicitated three winners who helped in bringing down road accidents and fatalities.

The winners who were given cash prizes of Rs.5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 by Deputy Commissioner, Megh Nidhi Dahal on the sidelines of District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) meeting here on Saturday, sent photographs of traffic violations that helped in realising penalties of more than Rs.3 lakh out of Rs.17 lakh against which more than 800 challans have been issued by the transport authorities. “We have realised more than Rs.3 lakh out of Rs.17 lakh by way of penalties from traffic offenders, thanks to the initiative of Traffic Suraksha Enforcers,” said District Transport Officer, Syed Rafiqul Mannan.

Mannan said that more than realisation of penalties, the most important aspect has been that the number of road accidents and fatalities have come down drastically ever since the initiative taken to form Traffic Suraksha Enforcers on June 27 this year. The DTO revealed that in July and August last year total 27 accidents took place accounting for seven deaths and 30 injuries compared to only nine accidents that resulted in three deaths and four injuries in the corresponding months of this year. From the data available, most of the accidents that took place involved two wheelers.

Deputy Commissioner Dahal said ensuring road safety is the top priority of the DRSC and the manner in which the Traffic Suraksha Enforcers have helped in minimising the number of road mishaps and fatalities have served its very objective.

Following the tremendous success of forming Traffic Suraksha Enforcers, the administration and transport authorities have decided to continue with the initiative with Dealers and Vehicle Association deciding to sponsor the cash prizes in September.

Chairing the DRSC meeting, Chairman cum Deputy Commissioner, Dahal asked the transport authorities to come down heavily on overloading of passengers especially in three wheelers. Dahal directed the PWD (Rural Roads) to put speed breakers or rumble strips at junction points with National Highways to prevent road mishaps. He also asked the PWD (NH) to erect proper road signage at all vulnerable points with speed breakers.

The meeting decided to shift temporarily the truck parking from Janeki Bazaar area to the under construction bridge area to avoid accidents at night. The meeting was attended by District Development Commissioner, Vikram Dev Sharma, Executive Officer, Hailakandi Municipal Board, Deepmala Goala, DTO, Syed Rafiqul Mannan, Inspector of Schools, Officials of Health, PWD, Transport departments, Path Suraksha Vahini volunteers and members of DRSC.