Low-cost repair works will start on Katraj-Dehu Road bypass to reduce fatal accidents, said deputy commissioner of police (traffic), on Friday. Speaking to reporters at the SKF plant in Chinchwad where the company handed over 125 barricades to the traffic police for road safety.
The traffic police have prepared a report after studying the 34-km stretch wherein 110 fatal accidents involving pedestrians and two-wheelers had occurred in the past three years. The report was submitted to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) who then met the traffic police.
A plan about short, medium and long-term measures for road safety was prepared and low-cost repair works will be started soon to reduce fatal accidents. The traffic police will work to reduce traffic congestion and making travel comfortable.
The number of fatal accidents occurring in Pune is showing a decline in the past three to four years due to increasing public awareness about road safety measures. The number of fatal accidents reduced by 44 in 2013 as compared to the previous year.
Public awareness about road safety measures was needed to reduce mishaps on the roads and traffic congestion. The traffic police are sending road safety e-mails to the employees of 47 companies located in Yerawada and Hinjewadi with the help of company officials.
They are also sending emails to some schools and colleges. If any company wants to forward road safety messages of traffic police to its employees they can contact on www.dcptraffic.pune@nic.in. The traffic police will start the service.
The Karnataka government gave Rs 130 crore to Bangalore for installing CCTV cameras and improving road safety. The Delhi police get Rs 250 crore for improving traffic situation and taking road safety measures. In Maharashtra the traffic police collect fine to the tune of Rs 10 to Rs 12 crore for traffic rule violations but it does not get sizeable amount in return for undertaking traffic improvement and road safety measures.
The Pune traffic police received Rs 2 crore last year which was spent on purchasing five Innova cars, barricades, breath analysers and other equipment. The tender process to purchase some more equipment is in final stages.
Explaining the use of barricades, they said that diversions have to be provided on major roads due to several reasons including road repair works. Barricades are helpful in reducing manpower deployment and utilizing the personnel for other tasks.
Managing director and country head, SKF India was also present on the occasion. They said they will ask their system administrator to take necessary steps to forward the road safety message e-mail from the traffic police to the 3,000 employees.
SPOT ANALYSIS
A Pedestrian subways are not used due to water-logging
A Low medians allow pedestrians and two wheelers to cross the highway
A Vehicles on this road must check speed
No streetlights at some places make for poor visibility, No demarcation between service road and bypass, allowing vehicles from highway and bypass to cross
Source: timesofindia, Feb’14
