Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Dr. Basharat Qayoom, today chaired a comprehensive meeting of the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) at the Administrative Complex here to review the road safety scenario and strategise measures for reducing road accidents across the district.
At the outset, the Member Secretary DRSC presented a detailed presentation highlighting the road safety scenario in the district. The presentation covered year-wise road accident data, analysis based on eDAR, Police inputs, and status of black spots identified within the District.
The meeting was also apprised about the implementation and significance of the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) portal, which enables real-time data collection and scientific analysis of accidents. It was informed that the portal facilitates identification of accident-prone locations, analysis of causes, and formulation of targeted interventions for minimizing fatalities and injuries.
While reviewing the action taken on decisions of the previous meeting, it was informed that a series of awareness programmes have been conducted across the district by ARTO Pulwama, Traffic Police, and the Education Department. Over 35 awareness camps and 16 medical camps were organised, with more than 650 commercial drivers examined for fitness and eye check-ups.
The Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Pulwama informed the meeting that strict enforcement measures have been undertaken, including suspension of driving licenses for violations such as over-speeding and overloading, and blacklisting of vehicles with pending challans.
The DC reviewed the traffic management measures being implemented across key routes and stressed the need for sustained enforcement on busy roads, particularly near hospitals, educational institutions, and market areas. While taking stock of infrastructure-related issues, the meeting was informed about the road safety audit conducted on identified roads and bridges, as per the directions of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS).
The Deputy Commissioner issued a series of directions to further strengthen road safety mechanisms in the district. He directed all concerned departments to ensure effective utilisation of the iRAD portal for data-driven decision-making and called for close coordination among Police, Transport, Health, and Engineering departments.
Emphasising preventive measures, the DC instructed ARTO and Traffic Police to intensify enforcement drives against rash driving, overloading, and non-compliance with safety norms. The Deputy Commissioner reiterated that reduction in road accidents requires a multi-pronged approach involving enforcement, engineering interventions, awareness, and data-driven planning, and called upon all stakeholders to work in close coordination to achieve tangible results.
Among others, the meeting was attended by the Chief Medical Officer Pulwama, Executive Engineers of R&B and PMGSY, ARTO Pulwama, officers from Education Department and other members of the committee.