Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 2: Despite alarming increase in road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir, government has failed to take any corrective measures in curbing these fatal incidents in the state.
Though state government has pulled up several departments for their failure in taking appropriate measures and coordinate their activities to ensure road safety in the state.
Government has also set up a 'Lead Agency' to act as the Secretariat of the State Road Safety Council and coordinate all activities relating to the road safety in the state, which would include the functions of these departments. Surprisingly, the State Road Safety Council has held only two meeting during the past three years which according to official sources shows the lack of concern of Council's members in curbing growing road accidents.
The percentage of deaths in road accidents in J&K is 66 percent as compared to the 37 percent at the national level. Figures reveal that in 2013, around 2256 road mishaps were reported, killing 353 and injuring 3033 people. Since 2011, up to December 2014, 3960 people have been killed across the state and more than 30,000 people have been injured in over 20,000 road accidents.
Sources said the role of Roads and Buildings, transport, police, education, health department and local bodies has confined to papers without showing positive results on the ground.
J&K has witnessed 50 percent increase in traffic since 2008 but there has been least road widening over these years. Sources said the government has failed to widen the roads as various road widening projects have been stalled due to ill-planning.
According to the official figures of traffic department, the number of vehicles in J&K was 6,68, 445 in 2008. In 2009, it gained7.77 percent increase and reached upto 7,37,581.
While as in the year 2010, 2011, 2012; it increased traffic percentage of 10.34, 11.92 and 11.98 percent respectively and their number reached to 9,16,898 in the state by 2012 and the number has reached to over 14 lakh.
Earlier, a House Committee under the chairmanship of MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami submitted its report in April 2012 and the panel had come up with a slew of recommendations to the Transport department, Traffic department, R&B department and other agencies concerned for curbing the growing road accidents. "However, none of their suggestions was implemented," an official said.
Increase in number of vehicles, less road length, faulty roads, negligent driving and worn out vehicles are among the reasons seen for growing accidents in J&K, the Committee has said.
Despite state witnessed 50 percent increase in traffic for the last seven years, authorities have failed to conduct any major recruitment drive for traffic personnel during the last one decade, who would help in catering the traffic movement.
"Government should conduct a major recruitment drive of traffic personnel in the state for manning the traffic movement which would help in decreasing the number of road accidents," a senior official of Traffic Department said. |
