New Delhi/Lukhnow: Mr Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in a letter written to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged him to work in association with the India Chapter of the International Road federation (IRF), a Geneva based global body working for better and safer road networks to make the highways and state roads more safer by reducing number of road accidents and resulting fatalities.
“Road accidents and resulting fatalities in India is an exceedingly serious problem and Uttar Pradesh is amongst one of the hardest hit State in the country. There is an urgent need to work in a coordinated manner to improve the scenario of road safety by bringing all stakeholders from all levels of governance” said Mr Gadlkari in his letter to the UP CM.
“The IRF India chapter plans to undertake a comprehensive study and measures based on 4E’s including Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Emergency care, which will be undertaken under a separate programme with the assistance of the state government” said Mr Gadkari.
Mr K.K Kapila, President (Emeritus), International Road Federation (IRF) and Chairman and Managing Director of Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats (ICT), the Authority’s Engineer for the upcoming BundelkhandExpressway in the State gave a detailed presentation to the nodal agency Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) on various steps being taken to make Bundelkhand Expressway the safest Four lane Expressway in the country as it is based on the concept of ‘Forgiving Road’ which has been incorporated in planning and design, which are under implementation.
“UPEIDA is taking all safety measures as per Indian Road Congress guidelines including road safety audits on all Expressways being built in the State of Uttar Pradesh . The Greenfield Purvanchal Express is all set to be opened for traffic in July this year. We appreciate and welcome cooperation from IRF to make our highways better for safer mobility” said Mr AwanishAwasthi, CEO, UPEIDA while speaking on the occasion.
IRF will undertake tasks on the concept of 5Es – Engineering of Roads, Engineering of Vehicles, Education, Enforcement and Emergency Care.
“IRF under Road Safety Engineering would undertake Safety assessment of the project road corridor (stage V Safety Audit), Crash/Accident Data Collection for identifying Blackspots and Hazardous locations, Blackspot analysis and development of countermeasures, detailed engineering design for the countermeasures and assist the States Government to implement these corrections,” said Mr. Kapila.
”Our efforts in the area of Engineering of Vehicles would basically include Policy Advocacy for enforcing mandatory safety features in vehicles, both retrofitting and in new vehicles such as Conspicuity of bicycles, trucks, tractors, trolleys, etc., fitment of FUPD, SUPD, RUPD, Alcolocks, ABS in two wheelers, etc. Other mandatory enforcement issues such as seat belts, helmets, etc. would also be tackled under this E to align Transport Mobility with the Roads”, said Mr. Kapila.
“Under Education : The IRF Study would include educational Institutions lined within the 2 Km belt on either side of the identified road stretch and impart Road Safety education in a comprehensive manner to the children. IRF India Chapter has developed revised NCERT books from Class 6 to Class 10, wherein every subject taught – be it English, Hindi, Mathematics Social Studies and Science, will help to ingrain the aspect of road safety in a child’s mind”, said Mr Kapila
“Under Enforcement IRF has made a comprehensive plan for enforcement by deployment of ATMS such as speed cameras with the help of Information Technology which will be demonstrated to the Police Department to take it forward so that enforcement could be effectively ensured without a human interface. Another important area is with regard to road accident data collection using latest tools. The IRF plans to cover this by training police personnel from police stations on the stretch.’ Said Mr Kapila.
“In the area of Emergency Care, the existing medical facilities within the belt of 5 km on either side of the Highway will be mapped for deficiencies and come out with a plan for augmenting these. Besides this, a FirstAid Trauma Care training for bystanders on these roads will also be taken up by IRF team. This comprehensive programme once implemented on the road stretch will clearly bring down road accidents and fatalities and will serve as a model stretch for replication in the State.” Said Mr. Kapila.
“The 296-km long Bundelkhand Expressway for which the foundation was laid by the Prime Minister NarendraModi in February 2020 is all set to be completed by early 2022. It will be the safest Four lane Expressway in the country, nay in the world, which will be referred to as a case study when safe road construction is taught across the world. It is based on the concept of ‘Forgiving Road’ incorporating all the 5Eswhich has been incorporated in planning and design which are under implementation.” added Mr Kapila.