Hailing the visionary decision of former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee for approving North-South corridor aimed to give international standard roads to the nation, the Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said the traffic moment will improve considerably once the project is completed in the State. He said t is scheduled for completion in 2019. “Pedestrians have also the right to use the roads” said the Minister, adding that the drivers should know their responsibilities and give a safe passage to the people while crossing the roads.The Minister was speaking at a valedictory function of a seminar on “Traffic Management in J&K” organized by Institute of Studies, Learning and Analysis (ISLA) here at SKICC this evening.
Minister of State for Power, Housing and Urban Development, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Minister of State for Finance, Mr Pawan Gupta, DG Police, K Rajendera, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr Kuldip Khuda, Add DGP, SM Sahai and former Chairman, Public Service Commission, Mr MS Pandit besides other dignitaries were present on the occasion.Syed Altaf Bukhari said that people as well as drivers have to share their responsibilities while using roads as every citizen has the right to use them. He said sharing responsibility on this account will not only save the precious lives of the citizens but also the property which the drivers possess.R&B Minister said that priority of the Government is to provide safe and secure roads to the people, adding it is the duty of drivers to apply their mind while seating on steering. He said rash driving always brings tears not only to family of drivers but to the persons who become victims of the negligence of them.
Bukhari said that roads did not grow at the pace we add vehicles in the State resulting in mess on the roads. He appreciated ISLA and traffic police for the role they are playing in improving traffic management system. He said the suggestions of dignitaries participating in the seminar and the members of ISLA would be taken into account while framing the road policies and master plans in the State.R&B Minister said that all out efforts are being made by the present dispensation to improve the roads across the state, adding that 1400 km road length in Kashmir Valley stands upgraded during past five months. He said expansion and upgradation of road connectivity is high on the agenda of the Government.Mr Ashraf Mir, while speaking on the occasion, said that the need of the hour is to create requisite road infrastructure besides implementing traffic rules and regulations in letter and spirit. He said number of vehicles is increasing every passing day but the roads and parking places are insufficient to cater to the mounting need. Advocating for bringing reformers in traffic management and regulations, he said safety of general people is priority of the Government. “We need to improve further traffic management system in the State for safety of the people” he added.
Urging for focusing on road infrastructure, Mr Pawan Gupta said that engineers of R&B department have important role to play in this regard. He said potholes on the roads some time prove fatal and suggested to book those engineers failing to shoulder their responsibilities for their negligence under relevant laws. He appreciated the organizers for holding such seminars and said this will go a long way in improving the traffic management system in the State.Mohammad Shafi Pandit also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the importance of the programme. He put forth certain suggestions for making the traffic management system better besides drivers and pedestrians’ responsible citizens.Later, mementoes were also presented to the dignitaries on the occasion.