Kupwara, Feb 18: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara Shrikant Suse on Wednesday chaired the monthly meeting of the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) to review road safety measures and enforcement across the district.
Emphasizing that road safety is paramount to protecting lives, the DC called for stronger coordination among stakeholders to ensure strict public adherence to traffic regulations.
He directed enforcement agencies to intensify on-ground monitoring and initiate stringent action against traffic violators. This includes a special crackdown on underage and teenage driving, overloading, and overspeeding.
The Traffic Police were instructed to step up surprise checking drives and deploy additional personnel at critical junctions and busy market areas. The DC also directed Municipal Committees and the Revenue Department to conduct frequent anti-encroachment drives to ease congestion and improve traffic flow.
Calling for sustained awareness efforts, the DC stressed the need for extensive road safety campaigns in schools and colleges targeting students, youth, and commercial drivers. These initiatives will be led by the ARTO, Traffic Police, and the Chief Education Officer. He also reviewed progress on the audit of school buses and inspections of driving schools conducted by the ARTO.
The meeting further assessed progress on road safety audits, particularly on hilly roads and highways, being carried out by PWD/PMGSY and BEACON. Special focus was laid on identifying and rectifying accident-prone “black spots.”
Executing agencies were directed to undertake curve improvements, ensure timely repair and patchwork of main and inner roads, and install proper signage at blind curves to enhance commuter safety.
With regard to emergency response, the DC emphasized strategic deployment of ambulances in accident-prone areas and preparedness of health institutions. Departments were also asked to submit proposals under the Road Safety Action Plan to strengthen infrastructure and emergency medical care. Officials were directed to closely monitor accident-prone locations through the iRAD portal.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kupwara, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kupwara, ASP Handwara, Superintending Engineer (R&B), Chief Planning Officer (CPO), Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD), Chief Education Officer (CEO), Chief Medical Officer (CMO), ARTO Kupwara, Executive Engineers (PWD), Executive Officer Municipal Committee, and other concerned officials.
