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Thursday , 28 March 2024

“These technologies will give us a better control on the road”

Even crash barriers are very important but we do not see them utilized to the optimum, at least in a state like Maharashtra where traffic comes from different states. So will you be increasing the use of crash barriers in Maharashtra?

Certainly. We will have to. Looking at the traffic going out and coming in from different states, we will certainly have to increase the number of crash barriers in the state.

Road Safety is a big challenge not just for Maharashtra but the entire country. Two aspects demand looking into – one about the awareness to be created among the vulnerable road users and two, the implementation of the Golden Hour for which we have very good policies that are unfortunately not implemented very well. How strictly are you going to implement these?

The biggest challenge is increasing traffic. It is beyond limits. We cannot stop anybody from purchasing cars. In Mumbai city, one family has four to five cars, one car for each member of the family. If public opts for public transport, the traffic will be controlled better.

Milind-BharambheAs the Chairman of the Road Safety Committee, I can say with confidence that we have thought and discussed a lot about preventing the accidents, giving better roads for traffic and the pedestrians, and bringing a perfect understanding between vehicular traffic and the person walking on the road – to avoid accidents, but we were not left with much funds to implement all this. But this year, in the last assembly session, the government has passed a bill and we have got a separate fund for road safety. So in future, we will upgrade our technologies for road safety according to the type I have seen at the Expo.

Is it possible for you to disclose the amount of the fund kept for Road Safety?

It is a separate fund. The government will not have any control over it. And since the Committee comprises all Secretaries, we will now be in a position to go ahead with our decisions on road safety. We will build small bridges, flyovers and under-ground bridges for crossing, among other things. We will not be cash-strapped now for improving the traffic movement, facilitating better crossing during heavy traffic, and bettering safety.

Despite there being many good policies for road safety and traffic control, the implementation needs a lot to be desired. What message would you give to the public looking up to you to implement these policies properly?

That’s true. People are so habituated to present road systems and traffic habits that it is very difficult to control their mind. So we have decided to educate children in the school itself. If possible, we will come up with on traffic. So the younger generation will get to know the civic applications. They will be better citizens as far as traffic is concerned and in future, for the smart cities also.

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