J&K govt determined to take steps to curb accidents on NH

Srinagar: Concerned over daily deaths in road accidents, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to take a number of steps to minimise the road accident which claims at an average of two lives daily.
Following reports that some persons not fully trained to drive were also being issued driving licenses, the government has directed the concerned department to videograph driving tests before issuing licenses.
Official sources said here today that Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon stressed on discouraging the practice of making double rounds at a stretch as resorted to by some transporters on Srinagar-Jammu national highway between the two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
The Minister said the practice is wrought with risks, which has to be stopped in the interest of passenger safety.
Mr Akhoon directed the transport and police authorities to effectively check overloading and tighten noose against those drivers who drive drunk.
He called for identifying such irresponsible transporters and lodging FIRs against them. ”Cancellation of their driving licenses should also be taken to reverse the trend,” he said.
The Minister said 6 more Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO) will be computerised shortly in phase-II to promote transparency in the issuance of licences, collection of fees and host of other activities.
He said functioning of 8 already computerised offices of ARTOs in phase-I has been streamlined.
The Minister said government would provide official-cum-residential accommodation to all the ARTOs for which 10 kanals of land in each district are being acquired.
In a landmark initiative, the meeting decided to videograph driving tests conducted by the ARTOs before granting of driving licenses.
The step, it was observed, will facilitate issuance of licences to trained drivers only besides putting a tab on irregularities in the process ”No licence should be issued without a standard driving test that too after videography,” he said.(UNI)