DC Sachin Gupta directs to Ensure Comprehensive Road Safety Measures across the District; No Negligence Will Be Tolerated

Rohtak, July 21, 2026: Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta today directed all road-owning agencies and stakeholder departments to ensure comprehensive road safety arrangements across the district to minimise the loss of life and property in road accidents. Chairing the monthly meeting of the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC)-cum-Surakshit School Vahan Policy at the Mini Secretariat auditorium, he emphasised that protecting human life is the administration’s foremost priority and that negligence in implementing road safety measures would not be tolerated.

Directing the Police Department to intensify enforcement, the Deputy Commissioner instructed that special nakas be established at identified accident-prone locations and sustained drives be conducted against traffic violations. Challans shall be issued against motorists driving without helmets, under the influence of alcohol, on the wrong side of the road, overspeeding and jumping red lights.

He further directed that automatic challans be generated through the city’s CCTV surveillance network wherever feasible. During the review, it was informed that 236 of the 250 CCTV cameras installed in the city are presently functional. The Municipal Corporation and Police Department were directed to restore the remaining cameras without delay to ensure uninterrupted enforcement.

Appealing to citizens to become partners in road safety, the Deputy Commissioner urged members of the public to voluntarily follow traffic rules and assist accident victims during the critical “golden hour”. He advised that anyone witnessing a road accident should immediately call Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112 and help the injured reach the nearest hospital. He also highlighted that the Haryana Government provides a cash incentive to Good Samaritans who assist accident victims.

Reviewing accident statistics, the Committee was informed that 190 road accidents occurred in Rohtak between January and June 2026, including 101 fatal accidents in which 114 persons lost their lives. While noting that the overall number of accidents had declined compared to the corresponding period last year, the Deputy Commissioner expressed serious concern that the fatality rate had increased sharply from approximately 41 per cent during the first half of 2025 to nearly 60 per cent during the same period in 2026.

He directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD), Traffic Police and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to jointly analyse the factors contributing to the increase in fatal accidents and present a comprehensive action plan with engineering, enforcement and awareness-based interventions.

Reviewing highway safety, the Deputy Commissioner directed NHAI to ensure that no illegal cuts remain on National Highways passing through the district. At the same time, genuine public requirements for authorised openings should be examined on merit. He directed that FIRs be registered against habitual offenders found creating illegal cuts and warned that any activity compromising public safety would invite strict legal action.

Particular concern was expressed over an unauthorised median cut on the Rohtak Bypass near Titoli, which continues to pose a serious hazard. NHAI and the Traffic Police were directed to permanently close the opening by installing concrete barriers.

The Committee also reviewed 36 hit-and-run cases reported in the district during the current year, with Rohtak Sadar and Sampla police station areas recording the highest incidence. Police officials were directed to intensify patrolling and enforcement in these vulnerable locations.

The Deputy Commissioner directed all road-owning agencies to undertake a district-wide survey to identify electricity poles located within or dangerously close to carriageways and initiate their removal or relocation in coordination with the concerned departments.

Taking serious note of inadequate street lighting on the Bahu Akbarpur Road, he directed the concerned department to restore all non-functional streetlights within one week. He warned that if any road accident resulting in loss of life occurs due to inadequate lighting, responsibility would be fixed and criminal proceedings initiated against the officials concerned.

Road-owning agencies were also instructed to coordinate with the Forest Department to undertake regular trimming of roadside trees and bushes obstructing visibility or creating safety hazards.

The Deputy Commissioner directed all departments to expedite development of their designated Model Roads, with the concerned SDMs monitoring progress on a continuous basis.

Reviewing implementation of the Surakshit School Vahan Policy, he directed all SDMs to inspect every private school bus operating in the district within the next four months and ensure strict compliance with prescribed safety standards. Vehicles failing to meet mandatory safety norms should not be permitted to transport schoolchildren until deficiencies are rectified.

The Committee also reviewed compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 9 of 2025 – Phalodi Accident vs. National Highways Authority of India & Others.

The review covered removal of unauthorised parking on National Highways, clearance of encroachments within the Right of Way, operationalisation of the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) and rectification of identified accident blackspots.

The Deputy Commissioner directed that the District Highway Safety Task Force be fully operationalised and fortnightly review meetings conducted in accordance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

All departments were directed to submit updated Action Taken Reports (ATRs) on pending road safety works to the Regional Transport Authority, Rohtak, well before the next review meeting.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Narender Kumar, SDM Sampla Ankita Puwar, Secretary, RTA Virender Singh Dhull, SDM Rohtak Ashish Kumar, SDM Meham Vipin Kumar, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Manjeet Singh, DDPO Rajpal Chahal, and senior officers of all concerned departments.