Be careful in issuing driving license: CM to officials
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, September 18 2019:
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has expressed urgent need for strict scrutiny of identities before issuing driving license to applicants and checking import of cheap pre-owned vehicles to the State.
He made the observation while speaking at a Road Safety Awareness Programme on Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 which was held at ISBT Complex, Dewlahland yesterday.
The Chief Minister, who also holds Transport portfolio, and is also the Chairman of State Level Road Safety Council, asked the officials concerned of the State Transport Department to be careful in issuing driving license as it is an important identity document.
They should strictly scrutinise identities of applicants before issuing driving license because it may be used as a legal document by illegal migrants to even claim themselves as State natives, he said.
Biren cautioned that officials found indulging in irregularities while issuing driving license would not be spared, adding that many fake licenses were detected during a mass drive conducted last year.
The Chief Minister continued that the Motor Vehicles Act had been amended to curb and contain rising number of fatal road accidents.
During the period from January to June this year, 346 road accidents occurred in the State claiming 77 lives and injuring 556 persons.
In comparison with the accident data of last year during the same period, this year witnessed an increase of 23.13 percent in the number of accidents.
There was also rise of 14.92 percent in the number of deaths and 15.11 percent in the number of injuries, he informed.
Stating that drives against traffic rules violators would be intensified soon, he urged the common people to cooperate with Traffic Police and Transport Department officials in this regard because the Government is doing all these things for the safety of the people.
On the other hand, he also asked the police and Transport Department officials to behave well with public while conducting the traffic drives.
Observing that road safety and traffic rules can't be taken for granted, Biren also appealed to the public to wear BIS-standard helmets, fasten their seat belts and obey road safety guidelines and rules while driving.
Chief Secretary Dr J Suresh Babu, who is also the Chairman of High Level Committee on Road Safety, was the functional president.
MSPCL and LDA Chairman L Sushindro, MLAs Awangbou Newmai and Khashim Vashum, DGP LM Khaute, Additional Chief Secretary MH Khan, Commissioner (Transport) M Harekrishna, IGPs IK Muivah and Clay Khongsai, also attended the function as dignitaries.
SP (Traffic) Khoisnam Sarma and Commissioner (Transport) M Harekrishna also spoke at the awareness programme.
The Chief Minister administered road safety pledge to the gathering.
He also handed over breath analysers and megaphones to traffic police and District Transport Officers.
As a part of the function, students also displayed placards on road safety at six traffic junctions.
The function was jointly organised by Transport Department, Traffic Control Wing, Rotary Club of Imphal and Rotary Club of Polo City.