Patiala MC, PWD officials to be held accountable for accidents, says DC

Deputy Commissioner Dr Preeti Yadav today said officials of the Public Works Department and Municipal Corporation will be held accountable if road accidents, resulting in fatalities, occur due to encroachments.

Dr Yadav issued directives to make the roads safer for commuters during a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee and said the district had been selected for the Road Safety Mitra Scheme.

“All Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) have been instructed to strictly enforce the Safe School Vehicle Policy. They must also regularly inspect roads damaged by rain to ensure smooth flow of traffic,” said the DC.

“The administration will work to identify and eliminate ‘black spots’ or high-risk accident zones by cross-referencing a report from the Road Safety Advisory Office,” added Dr Yadav. “Traffic police and Patiala Municipal Corporation officials have been directed to remove all obstacles causing traffic jams in Patiala city, especially near hospitals and schools. The administration will also collaborate with the Punjab Pollution Control Board to curb noise pollution,” said the DC.

The departments responsible for road maintenance—including the Public Works Department, Mandi Board, Forest Department, Municipal Corporation and Panchayats—had been directed to remove encroachments, trim trees and clear excess items and banners from outside the shops.