Staff Reporter
Dimapur, June 27 (EMN): Advisor of Urban Development, SI Jamir, who was half an hour late to a road safety awareness programme on Monday in Dimapur, described his ordeal with Dimapur traffic on his way as ‘unfortunate’ that gave him an idea about the magnitude of the traffic issue in Dimapur.
The legislator was speaking as the chief guest at a programme on road safety awareness in Dimapur district, an initiative of the ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Association of State Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) organised by the Motor Vehicles Department, government of Nagaland. The programme was held at IMC Hall, Dimapur.
Jamir remarked that road transport was the most important mode which links both ship and air transportation. However with the increase in motor vehicles in the city and the magnitude of Dimapur traffic, he observed that traffic will be choked before we realise its consequences.
Jamir recounted from experience that Nagas lack in cooperation when it comes to land contribution. He also questioned ‘the missing funds sanctioned for road development’ while opining that the motive of an implementing agency or department should not be to make money but development.
Jamir expressed that unless the Naga people change their mentality of looking only for profit without prioritising development, there will be no development in the state.
In Nagaland, the rate of accident was on the rise and its causes could be traced to human factor –the error of the. This was stated by transport commissioner, Elias T Lotha in his keynote address.
Road safety, he said, was a major concern in India as an estimated 1.2 million people of all age groups lose their lives to road accidents throughout the world while India accounts about 10% of the world’s fatal accidents.
Road accidents: Impact and prevention
Vehicle accidents were on the rise in Dimapur district where, in 2017 alone, 22 cases were reported resulting in 20 deaths, informed the commissioner of police Dimapur, Limasunep Jamir.
Providing more records on the numbers of accident cases reported, the police commissioner said in 2015, 27 cases were registered with 14 fatal cases resulting in 15 deaths. In 2016, 49 cases were registered resulting in 15 deaths.
Emphasising on the problem of managing traffic in Dimapur, the police commissioner pointed out the increase in human population, floating population, VIP movement, transit vehicle, encroachment of footpath and road user behaviour were the factors attributing to traffic woes.
“Road accidents are bound to happen with hazard of modern lives and there are many authorities that play a crucial role but bringing in coordination problem” pointed out Jamir. The preventive aspect to address this issue, he said, was engaging in the four Es: Education, Engineering, Enforcement and Emergency Care.
“Engineering aspect is neglected in the state which is one reason for the frequent accidents that occur along Chathe river stretch”, identified Jamir.
Legal aid counsel and trainer at Nagaland state legal services authority (NSLSA), Limasenla Longkumer articulating on the legal aspect, pointed out that possessing valid documentation of motor vehicle, driving license and registration of motor vehicle were the duties of a vehicle owner.
The road safety issue is still alarming because of the absence of professionalism in drivers’ training, safety norms not at par with international standards, indifferent attitude of the authorities, lack of emergency services and unsafe vehicle designs, she said
She suggested installation of video cameras along the highways, monitoring them vigilantly, construction of flyover at busy junction and installation of street lights in main roads so that headlight or high beam could be avoided.
Also suggesting making compulsory the use of helmets for both the rider and pillion rider, she drew attention to the rampant practise of imposing fines by traffic police only on some few individuals. Voicing concern over it, Longkumer asserted “every driver should respect men in uniform on duty and similarly those in uniform should ensure that they enforce the law equally”.
The road safety awareness campaign is a yearlong programme that began on December 5, 2016. The participants on the day took the road safety pledge and ensured to spread the message and motivate others.
