Hyderabad: Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar directed officials to make Telangana a national leader during the road safety month programmes scheduled throughout January.
The Minister issued the instructions during a review meeting with Transport Department officials held through a Zoom conference. He asked officials to prepare a detailed action plan to ensure impactful implementation across the State.
Ponnam Prabhakar said the primary objective of the road safety month was to prevent accidents and reduce fatalities. He noted that nearly 20 people die every day in road accidents across the State. He said the goal should be to bring the death rate down to zero.
The Minister instructed transport officials to visit every school and college from villages to Hyderabad. He said officials should administer road safety pledges to students. He also asked them to spread awareness on traffic rules and responsible behaviour.
He stressed the need to involve ministers, MLAs, MLCs, district collectors, police officers and newly elected sarpanches in the programmes. He said collective participation would strengthen the impact of the campaign.
The Minister asked officials to ensure participation of students, lorry drivers, school bus drivers and ambulance drivers. He also stressed the involvement of doctors in road safety awareness activities. He directed officials to include students from BC, SC, ST and minority welfare schools.
Road safety month activities to cover districts and institutions
Ponnam Prabhakar directed officials to establish Children’s Traffic Awareness Parks in every district. He said such facilities would help inculcate road discipline from an early age.He instructed district officials to organise road safety rallies, walkathons and helmet awareness programmes. He said officials should plan exhibitions of Transport Department vehicles during Republic Day celebrations.
The Minister asked officials to conduct rangoli competitions, quizzes and essay writing contests on road safety themes. He also suggested seat belt awareness drives, eye check-up camps and blood donation programmes as part of the campaign.He directed officials to carry out safety inspections of school buses and organise pedestrian safety awareness programmes. He also asked them to address issues such as overloading and conduct workshops for students and drivers.
Ponnam Prabhakar instructed district road safety committees to meet under the chairmanship of district collectors. He asked them to finalise district-level action plans during these meetings.
The Minister directed officials to document all programmes. He asked them to send photographs and visuals to the Transport Department office without fail. He also instructed Joint Transport Commissioners, Deputy Transport Commissioners, Motor Vehicle Inspectors and Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors to submit daily activity reports during the road safety month.
The Minister said voluntary organisations should support the initiative. He asked officials to involve NSS units, Lions Club and Rotary Club members. He said the government would felicitate contributors during Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
Transport Commissioner Ilambarti attended the review meeting. Joint Transport Commissioners Chandrasekhar Goud, Ramesh and Shiva Lingayya, along with DTCs, MVIs and AMVIs, also participated.
