UP Government Sets Target To Reduce Road Mishaps By 50% In The State By 2025

Lucknow May 28 (TNA) Minister of Public Works Department (PWD)Jitin Prasada while expressing concern at higher number of road accidents in the state stressed on the need of setting up of nodal department for better coordination between various state ministries and departments including Transport , Health, Police, education and Public works to reduce fatal road accidents in the state.

As UP accounts for one of the highest number of road accident deaths in the country .During the year 2021 more than 21,000 people died in road accidents . More than 72 % were those who were in the age group of 18-45 years.

“More than 65 % road accident deaths took place due to over speeding and 15 % due to drunken driving in the state. Higher number of road accident deaths in the state give enough reason for better coordination among various departments to reduce road accident deaths in the state. The action needed by various departments include removing black spots, unauthorized cuts, encroachments, check over speeding by traffic calming measures and improving road designs” said Prasada, while inaugurating a day long seminar on ‘Road Safety’ organised by state PWD department here on Saturday.

“Keeping up with the Union Ministry of Road transport and Highways target of reducing road accident deaths by 50 % by the year 2025 and Zero % by the year 2030. State government is taking various measures including removing encroachments, liquor vends and unauthorized cuts , illegal dhabas, bus and taxi stands from various state highways .Roads should only be used by people to commute.” The Minister said .

“ The State PWD in close coordination of other departments needs to develop safe roads by removing engineering faults, putting up better signages, installing road safety barriers and removing encroachments on state highways and roads, “said Brijesh Singh , Deputy Minister for PWD, Uttar Pradesh while speaking at the conference.

“India accounts for more than 11 per cent of total global road accidents and is signatory to the UN declaration to reduce 50% road accidents by the year 2030 Union Ministry of road transport and highways has reduced the target to the year 2025 . International Road Federation (IRF) as part of its effort to reduce road accident deaths is focusing on E’s of road safety including Engineering, Vehicle Engineering , Education, enforcement and Emergency care “ said K K Kapila, President Emeritus, International Road Federation (IRF) a global road safety body while delivering the keynote address at the seminar