Khattar approves new scheme for safe road travel

Chandigarh, January 28

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday approved a new scheme for providing smooth flow of traffic and ensuring safe travel for road users in the state.

Khattar approved the 'Haryana Road Safety Fund Scheme' of the state police, saying the scheme for traffic safety and management would reduce the rate of accidents and mortality on National Highways and State Highways and other roads, an official release said here.

The Chief Minister, who was presiding over a meeting, was informed that nearly 11,000 accidents occur annually in the state and around 4,000 people lose their lives per year and more than 16,000 persons get seriously injured.

Under the scheme, the fund would be utilised to impart traffic education to road-users, including children, by holding awareness campaigns, rallies, quiz, drawing competition and by publishing advertisement in newspapers, putting hoarding or boards and printing pamphlets and to install surveillance cameras and accessories.

Also, it would be utilised to procure traffic lights, traffic rule enforcement equipment like Radar guns, Interceptors, Alco-sensors, proper gear for traffic policemen — helmets, fluorescent jackets, belts, pollution masks, barricades, cones for regulation of traffic, the release said.

Besides, the fund would be used to provide aid to public in emergency or accident like towing the vehicle, arranging ambulance and any other activity to promote road safety and awareness among public.

As part of the scheme, an Empowered Committee under the chairmanship of Home Secretary would be constituted for the finalisation of proposals received from different districts.

The Committee would decide the methodology for providing such aid or assistance.

It was also decided in the meeting that about 50 per cent of the compounding fee collected from various traffic violations challans in the previous year under the Motor Vehicles Act would be provided under the scheme for the next year.

In the year 2013, 13.2 lakh challans have been issued by the Haryana Police and an amount of Rs 42.56 crore was collected as compounding amount against these challans, it said.

PTI