PULWAMA, SEPTEMBER 30: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Dr. Basharat Qayoom today chaired a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) at the Administrative Complex here, to review the road safety scenario in the district and assess the progress made on various road safety measures and decisions taken in the previous meeting.
At the outset, Superintending Engineer, R&B, gave a detailed presentation on the road safety scenario in the district, covering accident data, enforcement measures, identified hot/black spots, implementation of road safety works, PM-RAHAT scheme, Rah-Veer awareness, road safety audits and the Road Safety Action Plan for 2026-27.
The presentation also highlighted the four-pronged strategy of Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Emergency Care for reducing road accidents and fatalities.
The DC sought detailed information from the ARTO Pulwama regarding the enforcement drives being conducted across the district and directed him to intensify enforcement against over-speeding, overloading, driving without seat belts and helmets, and other traffic violations, with particular focus on accident-prone and congested stretches.
Reviewing the traffic situation in Pulwama town, the DC stressed the need for effective decongestion of major roads and directed the concerned departments to conduct dedicated decongestion and traffic regulation drives twice a week under the supervision of the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC), Pulwama. He called for coordinated action by the Traffic Police, Municipal Council, R&B and other concerned agencies to regulate traffic movement, ensure proper parking and address encroachments and other factors contributing to congestion.
The committee also reviewed the status of hot/black spots identified through e-DAR. Various engineering interventions, including installation of road signages, speed breakers, road markings, crash barriers, rumble strips and solar blinkers, were discussed.
The meeting also discussed identified accident-prone locations and the Road Safety Action Plans prepared by R&B Divisions Pulwama and Awantipora.
The DC directed the concerned engineering agencies to ensure timely implementation of road safety interventions at identified black spots and called for close coordination with the concerned agencies, for addressing safety deficiencies on National Highway stretches.
On the occasion, the DC also emphasised greater public awareness regarding the Rah-Veer initiative and directed the concerned departments to intensify awareness activities and facilitate identification of Rah-Veers so as to strengthen the immediate response and assistance available to road accident victims.
Emphasising the need for sustained and coordinated action, the DC directed all stakeholders to work in close convergence and ensure that road safety measures translate into tangible improvement on the ground. He stressed that enforcement, engineering interventions, public awareness and timely emergency care must be pursued simultaneously to reduce accidents, fatalities and injuries across the district.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner, Pulwama;
Additional SP Awantipora; Chief Medical Officer, Pulwama; Executive Engineers of R&B, PMGSY, PCD NH-444 and Irrigation & Flood Control, ARTO Pulwama and other members of the District Road Safety Committee.
