Govt hastens process for setting up board for road safety

Alarmed by the number of fatalities in road accidents in the country, the government has expedited the process of setting up a Road Safety and Traffic Management Board and is preparing to present a Bill for the purpose in the winter session of Parliament.

Alarmed by the number of fatalities in road accidents in the country, the government has expedited the process of setting up a Road Safety and Traffic Management Board and is preparing to present a Bill for the purpose in the winter session of Parliament.

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"We have begun work for setting up of the Board and the National Road Safety and Traffic Management Bill is likely to be presented in the next session of Parliament," Transport Secretary Brahm Dutt told PTI.

The Board will specify the standards for the design, construction and maintenance of national highways as well as the standards for establishing and operating trauma and para- medical facilities for dealing with traffic related injuries.

It will also conduct safety audits to check compliance with the standards specified by it.

"The Board will have a Chairman and three other full-time members," Dutt said.

The Board will also lay down the minimum safety requirements and standards for the design and manufacture of motor vehicles and specify the conditions for safe usage of such vehicles including the maximum load bearing limits.

The Board is being set up on the recommendation of the Sundar Committee report.