In a decisive move against traffic violations, 572 driving licenses were suspended in February, and fines amounting to ₹14.5 lakh were collected for violations, including riding without helmets and driving without seat belts. Additionally, 1,928 new driving licenses were issued, with 1,637 for men and 291 for women.
The developments were part of a Traffic and Road Safety meeting chaired by District Magistrate cum Deputy Commissioner Ananya Mittal at the Collectorate Auditorium. Senior Superintendent of Police Kishore Kaushal, ADM Law and Order Aniket Sachan, SDM Dhalbhum Shatabdi Majumdar, Rural SP Rishabh Garg, City SP Kumar Shivashish, and other key officials attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed road accidents, revealing that illegal roadside parking, wrong-side driving, and overspeeding were major causes. Police identified nine accident-prone zones, with recommendations for barricading and installing blinkers. Authorities were also directed to prevent frequent accidents at Jemco, Domuhani, MGM, and PW Chowk Baharagora.
Strict action was ordered against auto drivers violating parking rules at Sakchi roundabout. Officials were instructed to inspect and identify parking spaces for heavy vehicles in the Jemco area to prevent congestion and reduce the risk of accidents. In line with the directives, traffic police have been mobilized to conduct surprise inspections and issue fines for violations, ensuring compliance with designated parking areas.
Additionally, officials discussed plans for removing dilapidated buses from Mango Bus Stand and developing a temporary ISBT with basic passenger amenities. The sub-divisional officer Dhalbhum and Mango Municipal Corporation were directed to take necessary steps for constructing temporary sheds and installing mobile toilets at ISBT to improve commuter convenience.
In the review of road accidents, illegal parking on the roadside along the National Highway, driving on the wrong side and overspeeding were found to be the main reasons. The Senior Superintendent of Police said that in a survey conducted by the Police Department, 9 places have been identified where road accidents are happening continuously. He suggested hard barricading for concrete action against illegal parking on the highway, installing blinkers near the connecting road meeting the highway and installing barriers at identified places to prevent overspeeding. The Deputy Commissioner directed the NHAI officer to take concrete action on the above suggestions. He said that preventing road accidents is the priority of the district administration, all necessary safety measures must be taken on the highway so that there is no loss of life and property.
The discussion also covered measures to curb reckless driving and enforce stricter penalties for violations. In February alone, 33 road accidents occurred, leading to 25 fatalities and 20 serious injuries. Authorities were instructed to identify accident-prone areas and implement safety measures, including widening sharp curves, installing additional signage, and increasing police patrols to curb reckless driving.
A major point of discussion was enhancing road safety awareness. The District Magistrate and SSP directed CII Young Indians representatives to conduct awareness campaigns focusing on traffic rules and responsible driving, especially for heavy vehicle drivers. Ongoing campaigns in private schools were reviewed, with directives to make sessions more engaging and accessible for students to help instill road safety habits from an early age.
Furthermore, traffic authorities were instructed to take firm action against underage drivers and unlicensed auto drivers. Random checks will be intensified to ensure compliance with traffic norms, and repeat offenders will face severe penalties, including prolonged license suspensions and vehicle impoundment.
The meeting saw participation from DTO Dhananjay, Deputy Municipal Commissioner JNAC Krishna Kumar, Executive Engineer Path Nirman Deepak Sahay, DSP Bhola Prasad, DSP Traffic, MVI Suraj Hembram, representatives from Young India, Tata Steel, Tata Steel UISL, the Bus Association, and the Auto Association. Authorities reiterated their commitment to making Jamshedpur’s roads safer through continuous enforcement and awareness initiatives.
