Punjab Government on Thursday launched a road safety campaign aimed at significantly reducing road accident fatalities across the State. Unveiling a comprehensive strategy during the 15th meeting of the Punjab State Road Safety Council (PSRSC) at Punjab Bhawan, Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to traffic violations while introducing stringent accountability measures and state-of-the-art interventions. Bhullar announced mandatory monthly review meetings to evaluate the progress of departmental action plans and issued a stern warning to underperforming departments. If deficiencies are found in any departments action taken report (ATR) during the monthly reviews, and targets are not met, strict administrative action will follow, he said. The Health Department has been specifically directed to address staff shortages in trauma centers and ensure comprehensive medical equipment availability to maximize survival rates of road accident victims. CCTV Surveillance and Online Challans to Bolster Enforcement To tackle high-risk zones, the Transport Department will pilot a CCTV surveillance system in five districts — Patiala, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib. This initiative aims to monitor traffic and enhance enforcement. Bhullar also proposed implementing an online challan system, akin to Chandigarhs model, to efficiently address traffic violations. The Health Department has been instructed to mitigate staff shortages in trauma centers and ensure adequate medical equipment to improve survival rates for road accident victims. Highlighting the urgency, Bhullar called for robust coordination between departments to create a safer road environment. Sadak Surakhiya Force Sees Major Boost In a landmark decision, the Transport Minister approved the release of Rs 55 crore for the Sadak Surakhiya Force (SSF), equipped with 144 highway patrol vehicles. This specialized unit has already contributed to a 45.5 percent reduction in road accident mortality rates since its inception. An additional Rs seven crore has been sanctioned to procure advanced electronic equipment for the SSF, reinforcing its operational efficiency. Third-Party Audits for Black Spots In a bid to ensure accountability and effectiveness, Bhullar announced independent third-party audits of all rectified black spots in the state. Agencies such as IIT Delhis Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Centre (TRIP Centre), PEC Chandigarh, and Road Safety Auditors empanelled with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will evaluate the outcomes of rectification measures. Bhullar stressed that these audits will assess not just the results but also the methodologies used for identifying and addressing black spots. Measuring outcomes is crucial to determine whether the rectification efforts are yielding the desired results, he said, emphasizing the importance of data-driven evaluations to guide future road safety strategies. Policy Decisions to Strengthen Road Safety Framework The meeting also saw the adoption of several significant policy measures, including training road-owning department officers (SDO level and above) in road safety audits at premier institutions like IIT Delhi and IIT Madras. Hosting a national-level seminar, titled Safer Roads for Everyone (SAFE) in Punjab next month; mapping police station jurisdictions under the e-DAR (electronic Detailed Accident Report) system; and restructuring the Lead Agency on Road Safety posts by the Finance Department to streamline operations are other policy decisions taken during the meeting.

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