Apex Court's Road Safety Committee lauds state govt for best performance

Kolkata: The Road Safety Committee of Supreme Court has specially acknowledged the role of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the state Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari for best performance of Bengal in road safety.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister had launched the state-wide Safe Drive Save Life campaign and it had helped in reducing road accidents. At the same time, following directions of the Chief Minister, the state Transport department had taken several steps ensuring a fall in the number of fatal accidents in the state.

In another move as a part of road safety measures taken by the state Transport department, an integrated project has been taken up to ensure automatic vehicle testing and certification facility and at the same time the automatic system of driving eligibility test to issue license is also going to be in place.

Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Additional Chief Secretary of the state Transport department and Capt Rajendra B Saner-Patil, Director of Central Institute for Road Transportation (CIRT) were present in a programme where details about the projects have been announced. The work to set up the units have also commenced on Wednesday.

Adhikari said: "Within two months, the PVD at Behala will start functioning. I had ensured that we want to develop a smart transport system and setting up of the Inspection and Certification Centre (I and CC) and Regional Driving Training Centre (RDTC) is a part of the same. Initiatives would also be taken to set up the same at Asansol and Siliguri for Western and Northern parts of the state respectively."

Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) is spending Rs 17 crore to develop the projects on an 8 acre land provided by the state government.

Bandyopadhyay said: "Vehicles needed to be inspected and certified. Unless it is received, commercial vehicles cannot ply on roads. There are lots of allegations on the processes through which it is inspected and certified. So, automated inspection and certification will be very helpful."

He further said: "Driving license is also an important aspect of road safety. It is often alleged that licenses are being given without adequate or proper tests. But the regional driving centre will give us equipment and track-based driving testing facility. So it becomes automated and leakage free."