Govt notifies ‘Jammu and Kashmir Road Safety Policy 2025’
JAMMU, MAR 13: Aiming prevention of accidents and fatalities on roads, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, notified “The Jammu and Kashmir Road Safety Policy -2025”.
In an official notification issued in this regard, it was stated that the road transport is the most effective mode of transportation in J&K and the government recognises that the road safety demands an integrated and holistic approach to tackle road safety issues in the UT.
Highlighting the need to frame new Road Safety Policy, the notification briefed that there were over 22.66 lakh registered vehicles in J&K. During the year 2022, 6092 road accidents were reported in the UT in which 805 people lost their lives whereas in year 2023, 6298 accidents were reported and 893 people lost their lives.
As per data, 40% of all the accidents have occurred in districts of Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua. Accidental data analysis shows that number of accidents and fatality rate needs to be brought down making it imperative to promote preventive strategy for road safety.
Keeping in view the above data, the government with a vision to achieve the goal of reduction in road accidents as well as fatalities by 50% by 2030, reiterates its commitment to bring significant reduction in road accidents in J&K in coordination with all stakeholders and government agencies.
It is further said that the government will create an effective institutional mechanism to strengthen the road safety measures besides providing necessary support structure to enable each institution to play its role effectively.
The government will promote awareness regarding road safety among the key decision makers and government departments responsible for making provision of safer roads. The initiative will facilitate them for planning and promoting road safety involving Motor Vehicles Department, Traffic Police and citizens through effective involvement of print, electronic and social media for creating awareness on Road Safety by highlighting the consequences of road accidents.
In the new Road Safety Policy, the institutional arrangements have been strengthened by constituting the State Road Safety Council which shall be headed by the Minister In-charge Transport and a lead agency headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Transport Commissioner.
The government will ensure that best practices are incorporated and accident prevention and reduction strategies are adopted in a big way.
