Racakonda: In view of “32nd National Road Safety Month” Rachakonda police Commissionerate organized a massive “Road safety awareness program and Rally” on the 1st of February 2021 at Saroornagar indoor stadium. Hon’ble Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Hon’ble Transport Minister Puwada Ajay Kumar, DGP Dr. M. Mahender Reddy, IPS., Principal Secretary Transport Sunil Sharma, IAS., SAT Chairman Venkateshwar Reddy, GHMC Commissioner Lokesh Kumar. IAS was the chief guest in the fully packed hall with 3,000 participants. Photo exhibition and gadgets display too were organized.
At the beginning of the program Chief Guest Hon’ble Home Minister of Telangana State Mr. Mohammed Mahmood Ali and Hon’ble Minister for Transport of Tenalgana State Mr. Puwada Ajay Kumar, Director General of Police Dr. Mahender Reddy IPS. Mr. Sunil Sharma IAS, Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Telangana State. Mr. Mahesh M. Bhagwat IPS, Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda, and others paid tributes to the road accident victims by lighting candles. Later the chief guest and other dignitaries visited the photo exhibition arranged by Rachakond Traffic police and after looking at the photos Hon’ble Ministers Mr. Mehamood Ali and Mr. Puvada Ajay Kumar appreciated the efforts initiated by Rachakonda Police during the Corona pandemic and floods.
In the welcome speech, Mr. Mahesh M Bhagwat IPS Commissioner of Police Rachakonda stated that as per the directions of the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways the awareness program is arranged with a view to bringing traffic awareness among the road users to bring down the road accidents. He also said that every year road safety week used to be observed but this time Road Safety Month is being observed to bring Road safety awareness among the public in general and the professional drivers. He said that every year more than one lakh fifty thousand people dying in road accidents. In the year 2020, there was a decrease in fatal accidents due to various measures taken by the Rachakonda Police and appreciated the traffic police saying that Traffic police are working very hard day and night to bring down fatal road accidents. To act as a deterrent the Govt has also increased the penalty amount. The traffic police are also conducting awareness programs for drivers including RTC, Lorry. Taxi and Auto Rikshaw. He said that traffic police have installed speed guns on ORR to check over speeding. Steps are also being taken to avoid Rash Driving. In the coming days, the Rachakonda police will conduct more awareness programs to bring road safety awareness to the public. He said one lakh twenty-five thousand surveillance cameras are installed in Rachakonda. Mr. Mahesh M Bhagwat IPS CP Rachakonda also said that the police in collaboration with other Govt Departments provided jobs to five persons who lost their relatives in a Tractor accident at Valigonda Mandal in Yadadri Bhongir Dist.
The Director General of Police Telangana State Mr. M. Mahender Reddy IPS said that the police across the state are identifying Black Spots and taking up rectification works along with other departments concerned to curb road accidents. He said that the Police Department is regularly conducting Drunk and Drive Check and also registering cases against those found indulging in Drunk Driving. He said it is the responsibility of every person to obey traffic rules. The DGP added that the traffic police are being provided with necessary equipment and vehicles to check violation of traffic rules. He also said that the traffic police teams are monitoring the traffic movement from the Traffic police Control Rooms and issuing instructions to the field officers. The DGP also said co-ordination meetings are held by the traffic police along with the Road Transport Department, RTC, GHMC, R&B, and other departments concerned regularly. The traffic policemen are also given training in basic First Aid to help accident victims.
The Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport Mr. Puwada Ajay Kumar stated that there is a need to make a change in the law to punish drunken drivers and said that whoever indulged in drunken drive cases should be punished on par with the accused of murder cases. In RTC, the drivers are provided good training hence the number of accidents is very less. Whoever follows traffic laws will not indulge in accidents.
The Hon’ble Home Minister stated that the state Govt. has given importance to the transport department and increased their allowances. Telangana stands at Number one place in the use of technology. The Traffic Police of three commissionerates of Hyderabad is working very hard for maintaining smooth traffic. Comparing to previous days Hyderabad has developed and the number of vehicles is also increased. He said the role of Rachakonda police is appreciated in maintaining law and order along with regulating traffic in a large area of Rachakonda Police Commissionerate.
Mr. G. Sudheer Babu, IPS has given introductory remarks. Mr. Lokesh Kumar, IAS, Commissioner GH MC has given emphasis to coordinated efforts to control road accidents. He appreciated the work done by Police during the lockdown. Mr. Sunil Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Transport, Road and Building appreciated the imitative of Rachakonda police in organizing a traffic awareness program with RTC drivers and other stake holders giving priority to road safety. Mr. Venkateshwar Reddy, SAT, Chairperson also spoke on this occasion. (10) Traffic police officers were felicitated by Home Minister, Transport Minister, and others for exemplary work Rachakonda security council has launched Traffic Road Marshall program with 101 volunteers under the RKSC Traffic forum which was appreciated by all. Fazal Ali of Hetch foundation has assisted Rachakonda police in organizing this elaborate program and rally and he received felicitation. Traffic DCP Mr. Tajuddin, Addl DCP Mr. Manohar, DCPs LB Nagar, Malkajgiri zones and other officers from Rachakonda police commissionerate, RKSC secretary Mr. V Satish, SCSC secretary Mr. Yedula Krishna too attended.
After completing the messages the Hon’ble Home Minister flagged off the Motorcycle rally consisting of 300 motorcycles wherein the motorcyclist from different areas took part wearing helmets. The rally started from Saroornagar Indoor Stadium and took a U-turn at Victoria Memorial (Swarna Kanchi U-turn) and came back to the Saroornagar stadium. There was a huge response to the program with about 3000 peoples participating in the program. Amongst them 500 RTC Drivers. 400 Lorry drivers 200 auto Taxi Drivers and 300 Auto Drivers along with others participated and gave an assurance that they will definitely follow the traffic laws and join their hands with traffic police making the year 2021 accident-free.
Our Citizen Reporter
B. Bharath Reddy
Telangana