Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday flagged off 15 vehicles for highway patrolling at a function held at his official residence here.
Baghel remarked at the function that these vehicles are being provided to ensure smooth, safe and uninterrupted traffic movement for citizens and to provide immediate relief and assistance to the road accident victims on highways.
He added that the government is committed to ensure road safety and reduce road accidents. “These highway patrolling vehicles will help in providing immediate help to the injured by identifying the accident spot. Prompt help will save lives of those injured in road accidents”, Baghel opined.
He dispatched 15 highway patrol vehicles for ten districts including Balodabazar, Dhamtari, Balod, Bemetara, Korea, Jashpur, Surajpur, Balrampur, Kanker and Kondagaon.
On this occasion, Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, Director General of Police DM Awasthi, Director General of Police (Jail) Sanjay Pillay, Special Director General of Police RK Vij and Ashok Juneja, along with senior officers of the police department were present.
On the basis of black spots on highways of these ten districts, 15 road blocks have been identified, length of which is about 25 km. ASI, head constables, constables and drivers will be available on this route in three shifts for round the clock.
The highway patrolling team will reach the spot immediately on being reported any road accident and will immediately send the accident victim to the nearest government hospital via 108 vehicle or highway patrolling vehicle. Soon after, families of the accident victims will be informed. The team will remove poorly, crashed, illegal parking vehicles parked on the side of the highway. The Superintendent of Police concerned will have full responsibility for the operation and control of highway patrolling.
Highway patrolling vehicles are well-equipped with state of the art and technical resources including GPS System, Breath Analyzer (Alcometer), Smart Phone, Reflector Jacket, Raincoat, LED Baton, LED Light, PA System and siren, wireless set, digital camera, first aid box, fire fighting equipment, cert light, tool kit (for towing) and stretcher facilities.
It is noteworthy that at present there are 15 highway patrolling vehicles deployed on 322 km distance, from Waghanadi border to Odisha border. This has helped immensely in ensuring timely treatment of injured victims of road accidents.
AIG Traffic Sanjay Sharma said that due to quick response of highway patrolling vehicles, there has been a decrease of 24% in road accidents and 20% decrease in deaths due to road accidents in the last 8 months, as compared to last year.