Jammu
Minister for Transport, Sunil Kumar Sharma on Saturday said that rational, scientific measures are being introduced to ensure safety on roads besides regulating traffic movement. For this, the Government is working to introduce Road Accident Data Management System (RADMS) in the State which will enable Motor Vehicles Department to take rational/scientific data-based decisions to ensure safety on roads.
The Minister said this while replying to the Demand for Grants of Transport Department in the Legislative Assembly, today.
“In this digital day and age, timely and necessary technological updations need to be introduced so that the department can fulfill its basic mandate of providing better transportation facilities to the people with effective safety measures”, the Minister said.
The Minister said the department has initiated implementation of multiple measures in addition to RADMS including a switch over to Web-Based Online Services (VAHAN/SARTHI 4.0), replacement of paper-based documents with plastic/smart cards-in offing, digitalization of all departmental records, the introduction of Digilocker Service among others.
Besides, an app ‘Ride Safe’ is being developed for Citizens to report instances of irresponsible driving with geo-intelligence for intervention and action by filed officials, he added.
With a focus on ensuring road safety by way of awareness and training, he said that the department has initiated work on the establishment of Institute of Drivers Training and Research (IDTR) in Jammu and in Srinagar.
With regard to the income generation prospect, the Minister informed that MVD has realized revenue of Rs 163.68 crore against a target of Rs 168.51 crore during 2017-18 up to December 2017.
High-Security Registration Plate (HSRP) is being implemented in the State and presently about 46% of vehicles registered have been affixed with the HSRP, he said adding that the process of HSRP fixation has been modified enabling 100% compliance by new vehicle owners.
With an objective to strengthen the department to check menace for drunken driving, 100 Breath Analyzers were procured during August 2016 for which funds were provided by the MoRTH, GoI.
State Road Safety Policy is under implementation, further with an aim to reduce the fatalities and accidents by 50% by 2020, instructions have been issued for preparation of District Road Safety Plan (2017-2020), he said.
The Minister informed the House that the work is under execution on Inspection and Certification Centre (ICC) in Jammu at the cost of Rs 14.40 crore.
With regard to the relief measures for the transporters, the Minister said the department has also given respite to them by introducing measures like- relief of 50% on various types of the fees imposed by MoRTH, GoI, besides Payments of Token Tax and Passenger Tax for the period of 6 months of unrest in the State have been exempted.
Passengers fare has been revised and fee/penalties recently enhanced by the Central Government are being reduced providing relief to the transporters, he added.
He informed that Road Safety Council Bill is being introduced to create a Road Safety Fund for identifying and removing the Black Spots on roads to ensure Safe Journey.
