Road safety priority of Transport Dept, says M Lakshmikumar
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 06 2016 : Road safety is the cornerstone of Transport Department and every effort is made to make the roads in the State more safer so that there is substantial reduction in deaths due to road accidents, said Moirangthem Lakshmikumar, Transport Commissioner, Government of Manipur today during the press conference organised by DIPR at its office complex.

He cited the deliberations to amend the Motor Vehicles Act by the Centre to enhance the penalties for traffic rules violators.

The Transport Department, Government of Manipur in pursuit of this goal has also issued a notification on July 25, 2016, making it mandatory for any person riding a two-wheeler to wear helmet.

Lakshmikumar also informed that the Department will launch a stringent drive to enforce the order from the next month onwards which includes 'No Helmet No Petrol' .

Road safety priority of Transport Dept, says M Lakshmikumar

In yet another step to enhance the safety of school going children, the Department has issued a notification mandating that vehicle used for transporting school children should not carry more than 1.5 times of its registered seating capacity.

It has also made it compulsory to paint a yellow strip on school children carrying vehicles.

A State Road Safety Fund has also been created and various activities are being carried out like observance of Road Safety Week every year in the 2nd week of January in befitting manner and releasing of audio-visual road safety materials through local TV channels and AIR, Imphal.

Under the road safety measures, the State Level Road Safety Council (SLRSC) under the chairmanship of the Transport Minister was constituted in November 2006 and thereafter a high level committee on road safety measures under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur has also been constituted in December 2013 .

One of the major successes of the Transport Department, according to Lakshmikumar, is the approval granted by the State Cabinet August 28, 2015 of the draft Manipur State Transport Policy 2015 .

One of the key elements of the Policy is to revive public transport system in the State.

Along with this rationalization of routes also constituted a very important part of this policy.

The Department in its effort to develop infrastructure is making efforts to make ISBT at Dewlahland functional in the near future.

Though this facility was inaugurated way back on December 3 December, 2011 by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, it has not yet been commissioned.

Once it is ready for commissioning, it will look for a private party under PPP model to run it.

The Department has implemented Smart Card Projects for VAHAN(registration) and SARATHI(driving licence) in 7 DTOs in Imphal West (2008), Imphal East (2009), Churachandpur (2009), Bishnupur (2010), Thoubal (2010), Kangpokpi (2010) and Senapati (2015) .

Among the major activities taken up by the Department is the implementation of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) from April 12, 2012 in pursuance of the Supreme Court's verdict.

Since then, affixation of HSRP operation covers all the District Transport Offices located in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Senapati and Ukhrul) .

The Transport Department is also a major contributor to the State treasury.

In the year 2011-12, the Department collected Rs 15,35,73,573 and in the next year it increased to Rs 17,55,29,134.In the year 2014-15, the Department collected Rs 22,03,73,241 and Rs 23,69,21,997 in the year 2015-16 .

Another important project taken up by the Transport Department is the Inland Water Transport.

The project which is to be implemented by Loktak Development Authority will connect villages lying in the periphery of Loktak through waterways.

The Transport Department also played a major role in the expansion of the Imphal Airport by acquiring and handing over 647 acres of private land to AAI.

Commenting on the much waited Imphal-Mandalay bus service which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister in December 2015, Lakshmikumar said the bus service will start operating once the Myanmar Government signs some protocols.

The department as per Supreme Court's order of March 30, 2016 issued guidelines to protect the Good Samaritans of the State in order to encourage people to come forward to help accident victims, insulate them from harassment by the police and save them from avoidable legal tangles.

The press conference was also attended by Haobam Rosita, Director (Transport), A Romita, Dy Secretary (Transport), Dr W Rangitabali, Dy Secretary (Transport), B K Sharma, OSD Dy Director (Planning) and Dr A Chinglenkhomba Dy Director (Admn) Transport.