Transport department gets Rs 50 crore to further implement 'Safe Drive Save Life'

The state government has allotted Rs 50 crore to the state Transport department for further implementation of "Safe Drive Save Life" campaign across the state.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had launched the campaign to check road accidents that claim several lives every year. The state police and the Kolkata Police took several steps to ensure that traffic norms are followed in order to avoid any fatal accidents. The campaign had helped in reducing the considerable number of fatal accidents in many districts.

In reply to a question, Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, said in the Assembly on Wednesday, that the Kolkata Police has been given Rs 6 crore and each of the police Commissionerates have got Rs 1 crore to implement "Safe Drive Save Life" campaign and to take other necessary steps to curb the rate of accidents in their respective areas. He said police of each district has received Rs 45 lakh for the same.

He further said steps have been taken to install surveillance at strategic locations and at the same time, District Magistrates and Superintendents of police of all the districts were asked to file a report by identifying the accident prone zones. Necessary measures will be taken based on their reports. Steps were also taken to install surveillance cameras, even at the places where checking of vehicles are carried out to give certificate of fitness.

He said that the campaign has helped in curbing the rate of the accidents.

It may be recalled that with the launch of the "Safe Drive Save Life" campaign, the police had managed to become successful in making people wear helmets while riding two-wheeler sor travelling on its pillion.

Even refuelling stations have stopped giving petrol or diesel if one comes riding a two-wheeler without wearing a helmet. Plying of two-wheelers on Maa Flyover, AJC Bose Road Flyover and Park Street Flyover was restricted after 10 pm to check bike racing which claimed lives earlier.