IEP Chandigarh, November 16:
To reduce road accidents and fatalities besides improving traffic regulation in the state with the help of latest technology, the Punjab Government was holding two day Workshop on ‘Traffic Management and Implementation of the Provisions of Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019’ at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) here.
Addressing the participants, Secretary Transport Mr. Vikas Garg stressed upon the need of using new technology in traffic management such as speed cameras, interceptors and CCTV system, synching of traffic lights in big cities to reduce the flow of traffic. He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led state government was making continuous efforts in this direction and ensuring the implementation of the Provisions of Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Mr. R. Venkat Ratnam, Director General, Lead Agency on Road Safety, Punjab briefed about new provisions of Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 and its implementation especially increased fee/fines and their effects on drivers’ behavior. While emphasizing on the importance of deterrence with the interventions of latest technology, he said that stricter rules definitely reducing road accidents as people apprehend that enforcement of rules is being ensured with the help of technology even in the absence of traffic officials.
State Transport Commissioner Mr. Vimal Setia spoke on the measures to reduce the road fatalities, ADGP (Traffic) Mr. A.S. Rai explained about the status of Traffic Management in the state and problems, Traffic Advisor Dr. Navdep Asija presented overview of amendments in Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 especially related to road safety and its enforcement and CSCL Chandigarh representative Mr. Ashish Sharma delivered lecture on details of Intelligent Traffic Management and CCTV Challaning System in Chandigarh. Notably, 110 GOs and NGOs (on the rank of ASIs, Sis and DSPs) from Traffic Police, Punjab, Secretary RTAs and Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) from Transport Department and Officers from Engineering Department/Agencies such as NHAI, PWD (B&R), Local Government, etc. participated in the workshop, who were given comprehensive details of amendments in the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 and usage of latest traffic management technologies.