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Jaipur/Balotra, July 3. In an effort to strengthen road safety protocols in the state, a review meeting was convened for the third consecutive day under the leadership of Chief Secretary V. Srinivas via video conferencing. The discussions focused on reducing road accidents, ensuring passenger safety, and effectively implementing road safety standards. Expressing regret over a recent road accident in Dausa district, he emphasized that passenger safety is of utmost importance. He instructed all relevant departments to strictly adhere to safety regulations.

The meeting also addressed buses registered in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland that are operating in Rajasthan without compliance to the prescribed bus body code. Representatives from both states were informed, and directives were issued to send semi-official letters to the chief secretaries of these states. It was stressed that the registration of such vehicles and other necessary actions should only occur after thorough checks and verifications of safety standards.

The Chief Secretary directed that the quality of surveillance cameras installed on national highways be ensured and that they remain operational at all times. He instructed the National Highway Authority officials to conduct a safety audit of the Delhi-Mumbai Express Corridor within 15 days. NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar assured that the road safety audit would be completed within the stipulated time and acknowledged Rajasthan's continuous support in road safety initiatives. Additionally, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar Sharma suggested formulating a policy to allocate space for police posts in highway service areas.

The Chief Secretary called for effective measures against high-speed vehicles to reduce road accidents. He also instructed for adequate lighting at black spots, proper signage, and affordable meal options for commercial drivers in highway service areas. Furthermore, he mandated that each toll plaza be equipped with ambulances, first aid facilities, tow trucks, and fire brigade availability in coordination with the state government to ensure prompt relief and rescue operations in case of accidents. He directed the transport and road safety department to implement reflective tape on vehicles, collect pending fines, and conduct enforcement campaigns to ensure all buses comply with AIS standards.

He also instructed divisional commissioners to hold meetings with all district collectors to review the meetings of district-level road safety committees. He emphasized the need for all departments to work collaboratively to take concrete and effective steps to reduce road accidents.