Manipur Information Centre New Delhi, Aug 1 :Works and Transport Minister Dr. Kh. Ratankumar yesterday urged the Centre for providing adequate funding by way of Central Assistance to develop infrastructure for road safety measures in Manipur, keeping in view the resource constraints in Manipur as well as Manipur being a special category state. The Minister elaborated that installation of state of the art equipments such as breadth analysers, interceptors and speed radar guns, ambulance, cranes, development of web base data management system, emergency relief service system, strengthening of traffic police and enforcement staff were highly required in Manipur.
Dr. Ratankumar was speaking at the meeting of State Transport Ministers which was held under the chairmanship of Dr. C.P. Joshi, .
He stated that the number of on-road vehicles of all categories of Manipur as on 31st March this year was 2,01,261. During the year 2011, a total of 692 road accidents occurred in Manipur, of which 83 accidents took place on National Highways and 28 on State Highways. A total of 63 persons were grievously injured. He reported that the Department of Transport, Manipur organised mass sensitisation programmes on transport system in coordination with Manipur Bar Council, Traffic Police, Transport associations and Driver associations. To regulate a systematic traffic flow in respect of urban transport, a multi disciplinary body called Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee with members drawn from various government departments was formed. State Transport Authority was actively working on a viable State Transport Policy for Manipur.
Ratankumar also drew the attention of the apex National Road Safety Council for giving special attention towards the safety aspects of both passengers and vehicles against robbery and looting on National Highways and other State Highways, inter district roads and other district roads by way of providing more way-side amenities.
He also pointed out the conditions of the National Highways in Manipur which were lack of many safety features. The portion of National Highways in the hilly region was not having proper geometrics like proper super elevation and extra widening at the curves. In some portions, the gradient of the Highway was exceeded the permissible limit. Almost the entire length of the Highways in the hilly regions of Manipur was without Protective Crash Barrier. The end point of the medians was having high potential of being hit by running vehicles and it should be provided with modern means of crash absorber. Almost the entire length of the Highways was without proper safty sign and reflective delineator. Reflective delineators were required along the central line of the double lane road.Lack of proper maintenance by mending potholes in time was also one of the causes of road accidents on the National Highways.
He also mentioned that the State level Road Safety Council was developing a co-ordinated road safety measures. Frequent mass awareness programmes, targeted sensitisation programme, mobile sensitisation programme,, inclusion of road safety measures in school curriculum, strengthening of enforment agencies, formation of emergency response service mechanism, trauma care centre were some of the co-ordinated Road Safety measures in Manipur.
Dr. Kh. Ratankumar called on the Union Minister of Road Transports and Highways Dr. C.P.Joshi and requested him to provide all kinds of assistance from the Centre towards the development of Manipur.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ratankumar-demands-safe-road/
