Punjab Transport Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Monday, kick started the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week from SAS Nagar (Mohali) under the 'Surakhiat Punjab-Sohna Punjab campaign'. Addressing the gathering at Shivalik Public School, the Cabinet Minister informed that this week is being celebrated all over the world to create awareness about road safety and reduce the rate of road accidents and deaths as well.
S. Bhullar said that every year more than 4500 precious lives are lost in road accidents in Punjab, which included a large number of people in the age group of 15 years to 45 years. During this road safety week, which has been started from Mohali, efforts will be made to create awareness amongst general public about traffic rules across the state so that death rate in road accidents could be reduced drastically.
The Transport Minister further said that with the tireless efforts of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann led government, now learner license is single mobile click away. Earlier there were only two centers in Punjab for test drive for getting license of heavy vehicles, while third centre has also been opened at Rupnagar yesterday.
Such more centers will be opened in every 50 km radius, said the Cabinet Minister, adding that the state government had launched "Farishte Scheme" under which reward of Rs.5000 is given for taking injured of road accident to a hospital. Besides this, such person would also be honoured on the Independence and Republic Day celebrations.
Urging the people to use bicycles in their day to day life, the Transport Minister said that this will improve both the health and environment. The government is planning to resolve stray animal problem. Likewise, Illegal cuts on national highways are being closed rapidly.
MLA S. Kulwant Singh said that every day a large number of people fall victim to road accidents. Therefore, it is important that people should be continuously sensitized; strict action as per law should be ensured against traffic violators, students should be aware about ill-effects of traffic rules violation.
He announced that cycle tracks will be constructed in Mohali city in order to resolve traffic problem. Mr. R. Venkatam Ratnam, Director General, Lead Agency 'Punjab Road Safety Council' said that this 7th edition of Global Road Safety Week will last till May 21, 2023, and various activities and events will be organized in the districts throughout the week such as special drive on wearing of helmets and seat-belts and reflective tapes on vehicles on May 15, special campaign on repair/re-painting of pedestrian crossings on May 16, commuting to offices on non motorized transport (such as bicycle, etc.) on May 17, special traffic checking to curb underage driving on May 18, painting and essay competitions on road safety in schools on May 19, anti-encroachment drive of road & footpaths on May 20 and half-marathons and bicycle rallies to promote sustainable transport on May 21.
Addressing the gathering, ADGP (Traffic) A.S. Rai said that a pilot project is being started from Mohali on the lines of Chandigarh, where cameras are installed to enforce traffic rules and challan is being sent to the violator's home. He said that after the success of pilot projects, this project will be implemented across the state. Harman Sidhu of NGO 'Arrivesafe, and Harpreet Singh from 'Avoid Accident' also participated and spoke in the function.
On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Ms. Aashika Jain, SSP Sandeep Kumar Garg, ADC (UD) Damanjit Singh Mann, Additional STC Sakattar Singh Bal, SDM Sarabjit Kaur, Secretary RTA Mohali Pardeep Dhillon, Secretary RTA Hoshiarpur Ravinder Singh Gill, Secretary RTA Gurdaspur Davinder Kumar, MVI Ranpreet Singh and other officers were also present.