Odisha to implement 'no helmet-no fuel' initiative to ensure road safety

The Odisha government on Friday asked police to take up the "no helmet-no fuel" initiative as a public movement and ensure its implementation in petrol outlets across the state as a road safety measure.

Holding a review meeting on implementation of road safety measures in Odisha, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi directed the works department and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite corrective works on major black spots within two month.

The NHAI was told to act promptly on observations of the Supreme Court committee and start corrective works of the black spots on national highways. It was also asked to fix appropriate signages and signals on NHs and bypass roads leading to various towns and cities within a month.

Padhi also directed to set up a trauma care center in Capital Hospital and assured that necessary fund support would be provided by the state government for the purpose. He said that so far 8 trauma care centres have been set up in various places for taking care of the accident victims while proposal has been prepared for setting up another eight.

"As per the recommendations of the Road Safety Committee constituted by Supreme Court, the state is making all out efforts to curtail road accidents and casualties. The issues relating to identification of black spots, necessary corrective measures, checking of drink and drive, suspension of driving licenses of the habitual traffic offenders, establishment of trauma care centers etc were discussed and sorted out in the meeting," he said.

Transport Commissioner Chandra Shekhar Kumar said that driving licenses of those committing more than 5 offences are being suspended and a total of 18,000 have been suspended so far.

Driving offences committed by the drivers are being entered to their DL data base which is being updated regularly, he added.

Meanwhile, the NHAI has identified 23 black spots on National Highways and 13 black spots on state roads. The state police have identified around 200 black spots in 26 districts bases on incidences of accidents and causalities during last three years, said an official.

--IANS

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