Jammu, Apr 25: Newly established Road Safety Council - to be Traffic Regulatory Authority under one roof to suggest ways to prevent road mishaps - is all set to be functional from May.
 Jammu and Kashmir government has established the Council to be headed by the Chief Secretary of the state vide SRO 52.
 Sources said that all formalities to start the functioning of the council have been completed. First meeting of the Council is likely to be held in the month of May at Srinagar on opening of move offices, they added.
 Acting on the recommendations of the House Committee constituted to look into the causes of road accidents in Chenab Valley region, the state government recently constituted high level Road Safety Council.
 Sources said that the high level council will advise the government on steps to be taken for collecting, comparing and analysing road accident data, establishment of a road safety fund, provision of trauma and healthcare facilities to the victims, besides formulating a comprehensive road safety policy for implementation by the departments concerned.
 As per official data as many as 2162 persons have died and around 18817 were injured in about 12000 road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir during the past two years. Erstwhile Doda district alone counts more than 400 deaths and injuries to 2116 persons in 1169 accidents.
 Commissioner Secretary to Government, Transport Department Pradeep Gupta told Greater Kashmir that the Council was set up under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary of the state and it will also comprised of DGP, 3 Chief Engineers of Beacon, and 4 Secretary level officers of different government departments as its members.
 The council would act as Traffic Regulatory Authority and will suggest various measures to prevent causalities in the state, Gupta said adding that first meeting is schedule in the month of May in Srinagar on the opening of Darbar Move offices.
 He also informed that SRTC has inducted 34 passenger vehicles on the hilly roads in Chenab valley region and further Rs 2 crore has been allotted to SRTC for procuring more 18 passenger vehicles for the hilly areas of the state.       
 Sources in the department informed that on the recommendations of the House Committee, the Transport Department has banned 407 passenger vehicles in the region, and no licenses will be issued to such vehicles.
 The committee was constituted under the chairmanship of MLA Yousaf Tarigami in wake of growing road fatalities in the state particularly in the districts Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar

Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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