Black spots to be fixed, road safety Sirmaur admn’s priority

Pankaj Sharma

Nahan, July 10

In a bid to enhance road safety across Sirmaur district, Deputy Commissioner Sumit Khimta has announced a comprehensive awareness campaign targeted at educational institutions, including medical and degree colleges, as well as government and private vocational training institutes. The initiative aims to educate young people on the importance of road safety and the steps they can take to avoid accidents.

During a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee in Nahan, Khimta emphasised the value of human life and the necessity of raising awareness among all societal sectors, particularly the youth.

The Deputy Commissioner revealed that a proposal worth ?3.30 crores has been submitted to the Himachal Pradesh Transport Department to address and fix 18 identified black spots on various roads in the district. The proposal includes the installation of signage to improve road safety. He also directed the Executive Engineer of Public Works and the Regional Transport Officer to coordinate at the Shimla-level to secure the required funds.

To tackle the issue of speeding, especially in Nahan city, Khimta instructed the Public Works Department, Municipal Council, and Police Department to identify locations for speedbreakers, rumble strips, and CCTV cameras. These measures are in response to frequent requests from citizens concerned about accidents caused by overspeeding. Parents are also urged to encourage their children to ride two-wheelers at safe speeds.

The Deputy Commissioner also ordered the installation of signboards at accident-prone spots on major roads to alert drivers and reduce accidents.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Ajay Pathak reported that the Health Department has deployed 22 ambulances under the free 108 ambulance service, available 24/7 for emergencies, including road accidents.

Narendra Tomar, President of the Road Safety Club Nahan, supported the installation of speed breakers and Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in Nahan. He highlighted the ongoing training and awareness programmes for drivers conducted by the club, urging drivers to maintain safe speeds in the city.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Ramakant Thakur said the police are monitoring overspeeding vehicles and issuing fines regularly. He called for more signboards along the Kala Amb-Paonta Sahib National Highway, noting that the installation of signboards and Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) cameras in Majra has significantly reduced accidents, earning praise at the state level. Thakur advocated for the expansion of ITMS or Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras on main roads and urban areas to further reduce accidents.

Executive Engineer of Public Works Alok Janveja assured that the identified black spots would be fixed promptly once funds are received through the Himachal Pradesh Transport Department. He also promised the installation of signboards at various accident-prone locations and provided a detailed update on the progress made under the District Road Safety Committee.

The meeting was attended by various officials, including District Revenue Officer Chetan Chauhan, Regional Transport Officer Sachindra Chaudhary, Dr Sunil Kakkar from the Medical College, Executive Engineer of the National Highway Manoj Kumar, and District Programme Officer Sanjay Parmar, who shared departmental insights on road safety measures.