Jammu, April 02: In a concerted effort to enhance road safety and streamline traffic management, District Magistrate (DM) Sachin Kumar Vaishya Wednesday chaired a Regional Transport Authority (RTA) meeting, issuing a series of directives aimed at curbing violations and improving infrastructure across the district.
The DM stressed the importance of strict enforcement of traffic rules, particularly in rural areas, where violations often go unchecked. He directed the Traffic Police and concerned departments to conduct rigorous enforcement drives to penalise offenders and ensure adherence to road safety regulations. Additionally, he instructed the School Education Department to collaborate with traffic authorities to intensify awareness campaigns among students and young drivers, who are often the most vulnerable on the roads. In a bold step towards ensuring compliance, fuel stations have been instructed to deny fuel to two-wheeler riders without helmets and four-wheeler drivers who fail to wear seat belts. This move is expected to significantly reduce reckless driving and instil a sense of responsibility among commuters. The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) has been tasked with holding a meeting with petrol pump owners to ensure the strict implementation of this directive.
The DM also reviewed the condition of national and state highways and ordered the immediate identification and prioritisation of pothole repairs. He emphasised that roads requiring urgent attention should be incorporated into budget allocations for timely repairs, ensuring smoother and safer travel. Further, he called for the swift execution of road construction and maintenance projects to alleviate traffic congestion in key areas. To improve the safety of schoolchildren, the DM directed authorities to ensure the installation of CCTV cameras in all school buses, enabling real-time monitoring of student commutes. Additionally, school administrations have been urged to strictly adhere to safety regulations for student transportation, ensuring that buses meet prescribed standards for seating capacity, speed limits, and vehicle fitness. Recognising the need for continuous education on road safety, the DM underscored the importance of creative and impactful public awareness campaigns. He urged officials to leverage digital media, roadshows, and community outreach programmes to educate citizens, particularly youth, on traffic regulations, responsible driving habits, and emergency response measures. The meeting saw the participation of SSP Jammu Joginder Singh, SSP Traffic Faisal Qureshi, ADC Ansuya Jamwal, ADC Rakesh Kumar, CMO Dr Harbaksh Singh, Executive Engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD), officers from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and other key officials. The administration has reaffirmed its commitment to making Jammu’s roads safer and more efficient by implementing strict traffic discipline, modern infrastructure improvements, and community-driven awareness initiatives.
