Saturday, 14 January 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In an attempt to make the roads of the state safe for travel, the transport department has decided to conduct a detailed survey of the roads in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The department has directed all the Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to conduct a survey of all the roads in their jurisdiction within 15 days and mark the places where crash barriers should be installed and submit the report to the government. The department has aimed to install crash barriers in all the roads coming in the state within 2 years.
As per the experts the absence of crash barriers in various places especially in the mountainous areas is also a major reason for road accidents. Frost in the mountains in winter and blanket of mist and fog in plains, and bad condition of roads also cause accidents. The department has identified 165 black spots and more than 2500 accidental prone areas in the State. Apart from this a need has been felt for installing crash barriers in 5017 km length of roads in the State and out of these, crash barriers have been installed only on 2400 Km of road length. The roads are currently being widened in hilly areas in many places and locals feel that there is a need to install crash barriers in many places.
In view of this the Joint Commissioner SK Singh has written to all the RTOS asking them to submit a report within 15 days of areas which are accident prone and where crash barriers need to be installed. Along with this, the Public Works Department (PWD) has also been asked to prepare a DPR for installing crash barriers so that the budget can be arranged. The places where snowfall is reported, will be surveyed in the second phase. He said that the aim of the department is to make the roads completely accident proof within two years.
