In a bid to curb the escalating number of accidents every year and provide safer environment on State roads, the Haryana Government has announced ‘Haryana Road Safety Fund Scheme’. Chief Minister Manohar lal on Wednesday approved new scheme ‘Haryana Road Safety Fund Scheme’ for providing smooth flow of traffic and ensuring safe travel in the State.
Manohar lal, who was presiding over a meeting here, said the new scheme for traffic safety and management would reduce the rate of accidents and mortality on national highways and State highways and other roads. In Haryana, nearly 11,000 accidents take place annually. Around 4,000 people lose their lives every year while more than 16,000 persons get seriously injured.
Under this new scheme, the fund would be utilised to impart traffic education to all roads users including children by holding awareness campaigns, rallies, quiz, drawing competition and by publishing advertisement in newspapers, putting hoarding or boards and printing pamphlets and to install surveillance cameras and accessories.
Also, it would be utilised to procure traffic lights, traffic rule enforcement equipment’s like Radar guns, Interceptors, Alco-sensors, proper gear for traffic policemen that is helmets, fluorescent jackets, belts, pollution masks, barricades, cones for regulation of traffic. Apart from this, the fund would be used to provide aid to public in emergency or accident like towing the vehicle, arranging ambulance and any other activity to promote road safety and awareness among public.
As part of the scheme, an Empowered Committee under the chairmanship of Home Secretary would be constituted for the finalisation of proposals received from different districts. The Committee would decide the methodology for providing aid or assistance. The other members of the Committee included Administrative Secretaries of Finance, PWD (B&R) and Transport Departments, Director General of Police and other officers.
During the meeting, it was also decided that about 50 per cent of the compounding fee collected from various traffic violations in the previous year under the Motor Vehicles Act would be provided under the scheme for the next year. A total 13,20,801 challans have been issued by Haryana Police and an amount of Rs42, 56, 19, 423 was collected as compounding amount against these challans during the previous year.
The Chief Minister also directed that the State Road Safety Council under the chairmanship of Transport Minister would hold regular meetings to plan and coordinate with departments like PWD (B&R), Urban local Bodies and Town and Country Planning in regard to road safety aspects.