Safe roads
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 10 2019:
A five-day training programme of engineers was opened today at Imphal Hotel.
As many as 47 PWD engineers and some other engineers of Rural Engineering Department would be given training by experts from the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD), Noida on adopting new technologies of road construction so as to reduce road accidents.
Additional Chief Secretary (works) Suhel Akhtar, PWD Chief Engineer Khuraijam Temba, PWD Additional Chief Engineer N Subash, AITD Director (Road Safety) Dr SM Sarin and AITD resource person JR Sarkar attended the opening function of the training programme as presidium members.
Speaking to media persons about the training programme, Temba said that maximum number of road accidents and resulting casualties happen in India.
After China, Indian roads are most vulnerable to motor accidents.
Now there is an international realisation to construct roads in such manners that accidents are minimised and no death occurs due to road accidents, even if they happen, Temba said.
There are many factors for road accidents.
Flaws or lapses in road designs is one factor for road accidents and it is directly related to engineers, he said.
It is generally accepted that around 10 per cent of road accidents are caused by flaws or lapses in road designs.
Engineers of the State are quite good at constructing roads but they have limited knowledge of making the roads safe.
That is why, the training programme is specifically organised, he added.
He exuded confidence that engineers would prepare DPRs and road construction estimates by taking into account the question of safety in the aftermath of the training programme.