Lucknow: Expressing deep concern over recent road accidents in districts including Lakhimpur Kheri, Amroha, Agra, and Aligarh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday emphasized that every human life is valuable and called for coordinated efforts among all departments to further reduce road accidents and fatalities.
High-Level Road Safety Review Meeting
Chairing a high-level road safety review meeting in Lucknow, the Chief Minister stated that road accident deaths cause significant loss to both the state and the nation. He pointed out that most accidents occur due to lack of awareness and negligence, and directed officials to launch special road safety campaigns in all districts.
Decline in Accidents and Fatalities
During the meeting, officials reported that road accidents in Uttar Pradesh declined by 21% between January and April, while fatalities dropped by 22% during the same period this year. The Chief Minister appreciated these efforts but stressed the need for further improvement.
Strict Enforcement Against Violations
The Chief Minister ordered strict enforcement against stunt driving, overspeeding, drunken driving, overloaded vehicles, illegally operated dumpers, and poorly maintained buses. He declared that such violations will not be tolerated under any circumstances and ensured accountability at every administrative level, from the state government to district authorities.
Coordination and Action Plans
Yogi directed transport department officials, district administrations, and police authorities to hold regular coordination meetings on road safety. He instructed authorities to identify accident-prone 'black spots' on roads and prepare time-bound action plans for rectification. The Public Works Department should install proper signage and construct tabletop speed breakers at intersections and vulnerable locations.
Removal of Encroachments and Illegal Operations
The Chief Minister emphasized that illegal vehicle operations, roadside encroachments, and unauthorized parking should be removed. He highlighted the need for stronger field-level monitoring, directing senior transport department and transport corporation officials to visit districts regularly. He also asked officials to fix accountability of RTOs and ARTOs in districts and ensure that only fit vehicles operate on roads.
Fitness Checks and Health Examinations
Yogi directed the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation to ensure regular fitness checks of buses and mandatory health examinations of drivers and conductors. He instructed school managements to ensure fitness certification of school vehicles and warned of strict action against vehicles repeatedly challaned for traffic violations, including cancellation of permits and licenses.
Awareness Campaigns and Public Cooperation
The Chief Minister urged the public to follow traffic safety norms, including wearing helmets and seat belts. He directed authorities to intensify awareness campaigns through public address systems at intersections, toll plazas, and busy roads. Hoardings and signage promoting traffic rules and road safety should also be installed at prominent locations.
Emergency Response and Patrols
Yogi stressed the need for regular patrolling and adequate ambulance deployment on highways and expressways to ensure timely medical assistance to accident victims. Officials from the traffic police department said that, using grants from the Road Safety Fund, 25 four-wheeler interceptors, 62 two-wheeler interceptors, and 82 speed laser guns are being distributed across districts.
Zero Fatality District Scheme
Officials noted that Uttar Pradesh is the only state in the country to implement the 'Zero Fatality District' scheme in all 487 critical police stations across all 75 districts. Under the initiative, 573 critical corridor teams have been formed, each comprising one sub-inspector and four police personnel. This initiative helped save 566 lives in the past four months alone.
