JAMMU, JANUARY 23: In a pioneering effort to combine road safety with cleanliness, the Transport Department J&K and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) jointly launched an initiative as part of the ongoing National Road Safety Month 2025.
A meeting was convened at Warehouse, which was jointly chaired by the JMC Commissioner Dr. Devansh Yadav and Transport Commissioner, Vishesh Paul Mahajan. The meeting was attended by senior officers of JMC, Transport Department, Pollution Control Board and drivers of passenger vehicles, and locals.
During the meeting, the Transport Commissioner emphasized the dual importance of adhering to road safety protocols and maintaining cleanliness within the transport sector. He urged drivers to strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for road safety, avoid rash driving, and ensure vehicle fitness to safeguard passengers and themselves.
Raising concerns about the litter generated by passengers and drivers on the roads, the Transport Commissioner said that such practices negatively impact Jammu’s cleanliness and its Swachh Survekshan rankings. To address this, small dustbins were distributed to drivers of passenger vehicles for installation in their vehicles. The drivers were encouraged to sensitize the passengers about using these bins instead of littering roads.
In collaboration with JMC, the Transport Commissioner proposed installing large dustbins at bus stops and bus stands to collect wastes from the smaller bins in vehicles. The Commissioner JMC assured that the required infrastructure would be promptly set up, ensuring proper waste disposal.
Highlighting the unique initiative undertaken by the JMC to clean the Transport Yard Narwal, the Commissioner informed that JMC has removed tonnes of waste from transport yard Narwal as part of a comprehensive cleanliness drive, saying that Sanitation workers and garbage trucks have been deployed to ensure the yard’s routine cleanliness.
Appealing to the owners of business establishments for timely payment of monthly usage, the Commissioner said that this would go a long way in making the initiative sustainable. He also asked them to use the dustbins and throw it in the dedicated garbage vehicles.
These efforts, launched ahead of Republic Day, reflect the commitment of Jammu’s administration to promoting road safety, public health, and environmental sustainability. The locals lauded the initiative, and assured that they would extend every possible help in making the initiative successful.
Later, the Commissioner JMC and Commissioner Transport conducted a joint tour of Apsara Road to get first hand appraisal and follow up on the directions issued earlier with regard to parking arrangements there.
Interacting with the representatives of the Market Association, it was decided that the shopkeepers would provide a list of vehicles, two and four wheelers, of the employees working in their business establishments so that the arrangement of their parking is ensured at alternative places.
As per order, there would be no parking on the left-side of Apsara Road from Gole Market and there would also be one way traffic from Gole Market downwards. The stringent action would be initiated by imposing fine to the violators.
