Evict squatters to curb accidents, civic body told

Dhanbad: The district administration has directed the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC) to remove encroachments from important thoroughfares in the town to contain increasing incidents of road accidents.
Dhanbad district public relations officer (DPRO) Urvashi Pandey on Tuesday said that several measures necessary to avoid road accidents were discussed at length in the road safety committee meeting held under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner Sandeep Singh. “This included check on rash driving, making helmets compulsory for pillion riders on two-wheelers, ban on parking of heavy vehicles by the roadside, strict action on school vans violating safety norms besides earmarking routes and stoppage points for autorickshaws. Areas identified for the eviction in the first phase included Station Road, City Centre, Bank More, Hirapur Hatia, Police Lines, Saraidhela, Steel Gate and Court Road.”
While the traffic department officials were directed to earmark accident-prone zones and black spots where more accidents are taking place, the transport department officials were directed to launch vehicle checking drives at regular intervals in different parts of the district, besides taking stern action against vehicles plying without proper number plates and drivers without proper licence. Different transport companies have also been asked to furnish details about the number of vehicles they have and the number of drivers with driving licences employed by them.
During the meeting, it also came to light that many fatal accidents happened due to vehicles parked on service lanes outside the restaurants and dhabas by the roadside on national highways, which is why it was decided to instruct such dhaba and restaurant owners to ensure that no vehicles are parked on or near the service lanes.
The road safety committee, while deciding to maintain an updated Integrated Road Accident Database (IRAD), also recommended paying an incentive of Rs 5,000 to Good Samaritans who help accident victims in golden hours.