Date:08/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040850940700.htm

National

Road safety board will come into being soon

Special Correspondent

Similar boards to be set up in States too: Baalu

NEW DELHI: The proposal for setting up a National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board, as recommended by the Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management, is in the final stages of approval.

Similar boards will be set up in States also, Minister for Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu said on Monday. Addressing the 17th meeting of the Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament attached to his Ministry here, he said the Department of Road Transport and Highways was contemplating constituting an experts panel to suggest a comprehensive scheme for improving the public transport system. The scheme would stipulate reform measures to be undertaken by the States to be eligible for financial assistance from the Centre.

The government constituted a ‘working group’ to determine the technology for an Advanced Traffic Management System, an Advanced Travel or Information System and electronic toll collection.

It was proposed to install a system for automatic computation and classification for a better assessment of traffic on national highways.

Driving licences

A proposal was approved for creation of State and national registers of driving licences and registration certificates envisaging inter-linking of all Regional Transport Offices.

This would enable creation of an authentic database for the road transport sector, ensuring transparency in registration of vehicles and issuance of driving licences. The Rs. 148-crore, two-year project would check issuance of fake driving licences/registration certificates and lead to better enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act/Rules.

Mr. Baalu said his Ministry was working with the Health Ministry to formulate a scheme for trauma care facilities across the country, in particular along national highways.

The Health Ministry had introduced a scheme for setting up an integrated network of trauma centres along the Golden Quadrilateral, north-south and east-west corridors of the national highways, upgrading the existing facilities in 140 State government hospitals at a cost of Rs.732.75 crore during 11th Plan period.

“Our Ministry has to supply 140 ambulances and NHAI has to provide 50 ambulances with advanced life support equipment to identified hospitals,” he said reporting on the progress made in the implementation of the National Highway Development Programme.