SRINAGAR: An amount of Rs 18.16 crore has been collected as fine from over 9 lakh people for violating various traffic rules since 2015 in Jammu and Kashmir. Minister for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari, replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Dr Shehnaz Ganai on behalf of Home Minister, Mehbooba Mufti informed the Legislative Council today that 6,37,110 people have been challaned by the Traffic Police during the year 2015, realizing a fine of Rs 12.80 crore.
Similarly, 2,74,137 peole/ were challaned for various traffic violations and an amount of Rs 5. 36 crore was collected as fine up to April 2016. Mr Bukhari said that in order to curb the tendency of rash and negligent driving, overloading and over speeding by habitual offenders, the driving licenses of erring drivers especially of PSVs are being recommended for cancellation to the concerned Regional Transport Officer (RTOs) and Assistant RTOs.
He said that system of registering criminal cases against the drivers found indulging in repeated overloading has been introduced. The Minister said that road strips regarding road safety measures are being flashed regularly through the electronic and print media, besides ban on issuance of permits in respect of four wheelers and mini buses for hilly districts of erstwhile Doda and Poonch with effect from December 15, 2011 is being enforced strictly.
He said that issuance of Driving license to drive a Public Service Vehicle has been made more stringent in terms of SRO 254, which states that a person becomes eligible to acquire Passenger Service License only after three years of possessing a Light Motor Vehicle license.
The Minister said that all Commercial and Passenger services drivers have been instructed to display details of driving licenses including photographs duly attested by concerned RTO / ARTO on the windscreen of the vehicles while driving a motor vehicle, while as all 25 years old or older Commercial and Passenger vehicles have been taken off the roads.
Mr Bukhari said that all 15 years old or older passenger vehicles are required to undergo mechanical fitness test twice a year, besides State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Councils have been constituted to address the increasing number of road accidents.
The Minister informed that 21 Recovery cranes and 15 Ambulances have been provided to extend immediate rescue and emergency medical services to road accident victims under the National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme.
The Special anti-encroachment drives are jointly launched by Municipal Corporations, District Police and Traffic Department to remove the illegal encroachments on road and footpaths, he added.
He said that surveys of the National Highways are conducted regularly and status reports submitted to the concerned executing agencies for undertaking necessary road safety measures.
For establishing interface with various stakeholders, the Minister said that the Traffic Police Department has launched website (www.jktrafficpolice.nic.in) as well as page (J&K Traffic Police) on the Facebook to reach out to the people.
The installation of Electronic Traffic Signal System in Srinagar and Jammu cities has yielded positive results in management of traffic, he maintained.
The Minister said Traffic Police has been pressing into service the cranes for lifting of vehicles un-authorisedly parked on road sides. He said 207 type vehicles fitted with under-lift have been hired for lifting of wrongly parked vehicles in twin cities of Jammu/Srinagar.
Mr Bukhari said that Traffic Police has purchased and installed delineators, traffic cones and road dividers on various roads of Jammu city to enforce lane driving and discipline among drivers and are launching awareness campaigns to inculcate traffic sense, road discipline and avoiding rash driving.
Besides, directions of the High Court and Supreme Court regarding ban on the entry of heavy vehicles into the city limits of Srinagar and Jammu cities during day time are complied in letter and spirit, he said. The Minister said that Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department has taken up macadamisation programme in 2015-16 to improve the conditions of the roads, saying that Zebra crossings have also been provided on major crossings for the convenience of pedestrians to cross the road smoothly.
Mr Bukhari said that an amount of Rs 21.65 lakh has been released by the Motor Vehicles Department during the last three years in favour of various Deputy Commissioners for disbursement from Passenger Welfare Fund in respect of causalities and injured in road accidents with Commercial Passengers Vehicles ie Rs 25000 each for death, 10,000 for seriously injured and Rs 5000 for minor injuries.
The Minister said in addition to four-lanning of National Highway from Qazigund to Srinagar taken up by the National Highway Authority of India, State Government has also taken up the 6-lanning of road from Sonawar to Gallander, which will further ease the pressure on the stretch and reduce traffic jams particularly at Pantha Chowk and Pampore.
The DPR for the said project stands prepared at an estimated cost of Rs 342.60 crore and the tendering process has been initiated, he added. (AGENCIES)
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