Take steps to avoid road accidents:High Court

Srinagar, Apr 26 : The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the authorities to take immediate steps to avoid road accidents and traffic congestion in the summer capital besides calling for expediting measures to set up the CNG infrastructure in the state.

The court directed the Public Works Department Chief Engineer to take immediate steps for construction of an overhead bridge at the crossing near the Women's College at Maulana Azad Road here to avoid road accidents and traffic congestion.

It also directed the high-level committee, constituted for monitoring the implementation of court orders on traffic regulation and management, to meet and review the present in terms of steps taken for setting up of the CNG infrastructure in the state.

The Chief Secretary will submit a report to the court about deliberations and steps proposed to be taken by the committee in this regard.

The court also noted that its previous orders to upgrade the road stretch from Batamaloo to Alochi Bagh have not been complied with so far which has resulted in traffic congestion in some areas.

A show cause notice would be issued against the Roads and Buildings Chief Engineer, the Superintending Engineer and the Executive Engineer to explain why proceedings should not be initiated against them for failure in implementing court orders.

It was informed that all heads of the government departments, Director of the State Motor Garages and the Additional Director General of Police, Security were not taking steps to implement court orders on removal of pressure horns, sirens and shrill horns, double and multi-tone horns from their vehicles and on possession of pollution and fitness certificates.

They were directed to ensure that pressure horns were removed and the vehicles be equipped with the requisite certificates.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic was directed to step up checking of these vehicles and seize them in case the court orders were found to have been breached.

The court on March 1 this year had directed Managing Directors of oil and petrol companies to permanently deploy two testing vans -- one at Jammu and the other at Srinagar -- to conduct random checks of petrol pumps.

However, the court observed that its orders have not been complied with by these persons and directed them to take immediate steps to avoid action.

UNI