IRF Writes To Punjab Deputy CM To Join Hands For Reducing Fatal Road Accidents And Improving Road Safety

Amritsar And Ludhiana Turning Out To Be India’s Road Death Capital’s
Ludhiana, May 26, 2016 The International Road Federation, (IRF) a Geneva based not-for-profit Organization promoting the cause of Road Safety and Sustainable Road Mobility worldwide, while sharing its concern over the growing incidences of fatal road accidents in the country including Punjab , has expressed deep concern at Amritsar and Ludhiana accounting for maximum road deaths in the country.

International Road Federation (IRF) has written a letter to Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal ,who is also President Shiromani Akali Dal asking him to join hands in reducing deaths during road accidents in the state of Punjab as its Two cities Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab state account for one of the highest road deaths in the country . During the year 2014 318 persons died in 475 crashes in Ludhiana and in Holy city of Amritsar 94 fatalities in 165 crashes.

According to latest data released my Ministry of Road Transport and Highways among all million-plus cities in India, roads were deadliest in Amritsar where seven lives were snuffed out in every 10 road crashes last year. Ludhiana ranked second with one death in every two crashes followed by Varanasi.

“ India accounts for more than 10 per cent of the total fatal road accidents world wide as the data on road accidents shows that, during the year 2015, about 1.46 lakh people lost their lives in total of 4.5 lakh road accidents and about 4.8 lakh got injured. India being a signatory to the UN General Assembly, which recognized the clear impact of road accidents on global health, adopted 2011-2020 as the UN Decade of Action for road fatalities and accordingly has set a target to reduce them by 50% by 2020.””| said Mr K K Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation in his letter written to Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal.

“ Despite various initiatives taken by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the current scenario demands that the efforts have to be intensified and carried on at a more micro level. The complexity of road safety, more so in a vast country like India, when localised will produce better and faster results. One such localisation can be implemented through the local area peoples’ representatives – the MPs and MLAs. As per the current provisions, the Development Funds under MPLAD can be used for removing accident black spots, construction of footpaths, pedestrian ways, signages, education, road engineering etc.” Mr Kapila Said.

“The MPs/MLAs, in a show of responsibility towards their area, as a part of the development work, need to encourage and focus on road safety. In association with the Resident Welfare Associations (RWA’s) As and related local authorities, relevant programmes, such as removal of black spots, construction of footpaths, pedestrian ways, road safety awareness education, traffic obedience and enforcement must be adopted and funded. This would successfully sensitise the general masses to appreciate the importance of adopting safe road practices.” He added.

”The hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji, reacting to the dismal scenario, had conveyed his commitment to road safety through the national programme ‘’Mann Ki Baat’’ and announced various measures that his government would usher in, in the near future. IRF has requested heads of various political parties to join India’s Road Safety mission and motivate the MPs/MLAs in the Party Ranks to lead their constituencies from the front for incorporating road safety measures. Road Safety is an issue which cuts across the Party ideologies and differences of opinion and as such focused efforts by all of you is earnestly requested to save human lives and benefit the society at large.” He said.