Road accident deaths in JK double compared to natl ave: Vohra

The average death rate due to the road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir is double the national average where over 1000 people get killed and 8000 get injured every year.
Governor NN Vohra has expressed serious concern that, on an average, there are over 6000 road accidents in J&K which result in around 1000 innocent persons being killed, which is almost double the national average, and 8000 getting injured every year, an official spokesman said.
Vohra reviewed issues relating to road safety in a meeting held at Civil Secretariat today.
The Governor recalled that the high level meeting held by him on February 14 last year and regretted that the decisions taken had not been progressed in the past one year.

He directed to carry out improvements in road architecture, duly vetted by the Design Directorate, based on the Safety Audit carried out for the identification of "black spots".
The Governor directed that every concerned agency should strictly enforce and sternly deal with all cases of overloading and other traffic violations to ensure that no unfit vehicle is allowed to ply on the road under any circumstances.

Side by side no unqualified and untested person should be allowed to drive any personal, transport or commercial vehicle, the spokesman said.
To enable speedy decisions the Governor directed that an Empowered Task Force chaired by the Chief Secretary and comprising DGP, Administrative Secretaries of Home, Finance, Housing & Urban Development, Public Works (R&B), Transport and Health & Medical Education; Divisional Commissioners, Jammu and Kashmir; IGP Traffic and Transport Commissioner should be set up by February 23, to take all required decisions for dealing with the enforcement of every element of Road Safety.

This Task Force will meet atleast once every month and take appropriate decisions in regard to all issues, he said.
The Governor has asked the Chief Secretary to finalise the Road Safety Action Planwithin 20 daysand identify every matter that requires Executive or Legislative approval, which must be accorded by March 15.
The Home and Transport Administrative Secretaries shall secure clearance of Finance and Law Departments to all pending matters to ensure that the traffic management framework becomes fully operational by March 20.
Vohra directed that there should be no further delay in establishment ofInstituteof Driving Trainingand Research (ITDR) and Inspection and Certification Centre (ICC) both atJammuand Srinagar.

A special drive will be launched for the removal of encroachments and clear all roads and footpaths for the smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians.