Bhubaneswar: Number of deaths resulting in due to road mishaps in the state is far more than the national average. There have been 42 deaths for every 100 road mishaps in the state, whereas the national average is 20 per 1000 mishaps.
This was revealed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi here Wednesday. Padhi along with police DG Rajendra Prasad Sharma discussed the issue with district collectors, SPs and regional transport officers (RTOs) through videoconferencing.
“Number of accidents in some districts has increased in comparison with last year. About seven districts have been identified where the number of road accidents and resulting fatalities has also increased in the last nine months as per the records,” Sharma told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting discussed the necessary steps to reduce such incidents across the state, he said, adding that a comprehensive approach is needed in the seven districts, where fatalities are high.
One of the major causes of such mishaps is over speeding. More stringent action against the violators is required, including suspension of the driving licence and spurring up enforcement activities there, the DGP pointed out.
“At present, police have been empowered with MV Act compounding in the urban and municipal areas. The state government is considering to empower police with MVI in the rural areas as well. I hope a decision will be taken on it soon.” he added.
A Supreme Court committee on Road Safety has directed to reduce fatalities by 10 per cent.
On an average, every day 12 persons are dying in road accidents in the state. Road accident fatalities have increased by 5.71 per cent during January-September 2017 as compared to corresponding period of 2016, where as in the country there is a reduction to an extent of 4.51 per cent, the sources said.
Districts like Khurda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Koraput, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Jajpur, Ganjam, Balasore have recorded the maximum number of road accidents and authorities in these districts have been asked to chalk out an action plan to reduce mishaps on roads.
While most of the districts have notified ‘No helmet No Fuel’, practically this notification is not implemented even in the district headquarters.
PNN
