District Development Commissioner Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir today convened a meeting to review Road Safety Action Plan for the district.The meeting among others was attended by SSP Kupwara, ACR Kupwara, CPO Kupwara, CMO Kupwara, Executive Engineer, R&B Kupwara, Executive Engineer Handwara, Executive Engineer, PMGSY Kupwara, OC GREF, ARTO Kupwara, Executive Officer, Municipality Kupwara, Executive Officer, Handwara, Tehsildars and officers of Education Department.The DDC emphasized that road safety is a matter of immense importance and enhancement of safety by way of formulating a comprehensive action plan, therefore, deserves priority attention of all the stakeholders.He stressed for immediate action for identifying black spots, initiating remedial measures, installation of signage's, painting of roads at appropriate spots, generation of awareness, etc for making the roads in the district safer.It was decided to map all the roads of the district for conducting a safety audit of the roads and suggesting remedial action as necessary.
In this regard, a Committee comprising Executive Engineer R&B Kupwara, Executive Engineer, R&B Handwara, ARTO Kupwara, OC Gref Kupwara, AEE PMGSY Kupwara, AEE PMGSY Handwara, Tehsildar Kupwara, Tehsildar Zachaldara has been constituted for the purpose and asked to furnish its report within 10 days.Removal of encroachment from the roads, which also is an important contributory factor for bringing down the rate of accidents in the district, was discussed in adequate detail.CMO Kupwara informed that one Basic Life Support Ambulance is available at District Hospital Handwara and another will soon be made operational at SDH Kupwara. He was asked to prepare a proposal for developing a Trauma Facility of appropriate capacity in the district at an appropriate location.ARTO Kupwara was asked to initiate awareness activities in the district on a wider scale, involving schools, colleges, youth associations, NGOs, etc. It was also decided that ARTO Kupwara will publicize rates of fare in print and electronic media frequently.Speaking on the occasion, SSP Kupwara laid emphasis on enforcement action to curb the nuisance of overloading, particularly during peak hours.