125 killed in Kashmir accidents during the Ist seven months

Srinagar, Sep 9 (UNI) Concernel over the daily deaths in road accidents and reports of frequent traffic jams in the city, the traffic department of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to strictly inforce the rules and regulations for smooth plying of traffic and leaving least scope for accidents.

According to official figures 125 persons have lost their lives in different road accidents in the Kashmir valley from January Ist to July ending this year.

Jammu and Kashmir government has approached Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funds for the construction of a fly - over on Indira Gandhi road having aggregate length of 1.2 km, costing Rs 25.50 crores.

Officials said a study was conducted by consultancy firm ''HALCROW'' in 2005 for improvement of road communication in the summer capital, Srinagar city, to case congestion of traffic in some busy routes.

It recommended construction of seven fly overs and improvement of inter-sections at various places in the city.

However, when it was learnt that the project would cost Rs 200 crores, the matter was not pursued any further, the officials said.

They said in order to ensure qualitative regulation of traffic in cities and to maintain discipline on roads besides strict implementation of High Court directions, a meeting of traffic police officers and other officials was held here last evening, chaired by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Traffic Mohammad Amin Shah.

Threadbare discussion were held on smooth plying of traffic in the routes of Srinagar city besides other district routes.

Mr Shah exhorted upon the functionaries of traffic police wing to make all out efforts for smooth plying of traffic, ensuring minimizing traffic jams and leaving least scope for road accidents besides facilitating the transporters and motorists.

However, he said shortage of staff was one of the major reasons of increased road accidents in the state.

He said the department was facing acute shortage of staff for manning traffic and the newly-created districts in Jammu and Kashmir were without the traffic officials.

The IGP said they have received several suggestions for smooth flow of traffic in the state and as a first step the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar would be taken up on experiment basis.

He said one of the immediate measures of controlling heavy rush of traffic on Jammu and Kashmir roads was to minimise the number of diversions as these were found to be a major cause as far as road accidents and traffic snarls were concerned.

He said it has been decided that more police officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police would be deployed for effective traffic management in the state.

They would be made accountable for strict implementation of traffic rules and regulations across the state, he added.

UNI