A meeting of the State Road Safety Council was held at the Uttarakhand Secretariat, chaired by Transport Minister Pradeep Batra. Expressing concern over the rising number of road accidents, the Minister emphasized that road safety is a collective responsibility requiring active public participation.
Key directives:
• Road Infrastructure: Orders were issued to install robust, radium-equipped crash barriers, road markings, and signboards on vulnerable routes, and to complete ongoing projects ahead of schedule.
• Black Spots and Char Dham Route: Arrangements for night lighting at identified accident-prone spots (black spots) and the immediate rectification of accident-prone areas along the Char Dham pilgrimage routes will be undertaken.
• Environment and Other Works: The Forest Department was directed to plant landslide-mitigating vegetation, construct new bus terminals near highways, and build ramps on footpaths for persons with disabilities. Additionally, widespread publicity will be conducted regarding ‘hit-and-run’ provisions and the ‘PM Relief Scheme’.
Senior officials from the Transport, Finance, Home, and Public Works Departments attended the meeting.
