TN working on initiative to make the state accident-free zone

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu is working on an initiative to be accident-free zone and the number of mishaps has been reduced during the AIADMK regime, said Transport minister Senthil Balaji.

Speaking during the 24th road safety awareness week at CMDA Madhavaram Container Terminal here on Monday, the minister said that though the vehicle population in the state has gone up from 52 lakh in 2001 to 1.60 crore in 2012, the government has managed to cut down on accidents.

The minister said in 2006-2007, 7,527 accidents occurred resulting in 1,360 deaths. In 2007-2008, the number of accidents shot up to 8,749 causing 1599 deaths. But in 2011-2012 there were only 7,108 accidents and 1,237 deaths.

Balaji also blamed the Union government for failing to build bridges along the intersections of the toll road resulting in number of accidents in national highways.

“Former union minister of shipping, road Transport and Highways T R Baalu failed to build bridges along the intersections of toll road resulting in accident,” he alleged.

He also highlighted that the state has allocated Rs 65 crore for state road safety fund which is the highest in the country. “In 2001, the road safety fund was only Rs 2 crore but now it is worth Rs 65 crore, which is the highest in the country when comparing to other states. This amount will be used for road-widening,” the minister said. He also said the state government is planning to open seven regional transport offices.

Balaji also said the state government is spending Rs 15 crore for the  driver training institute in Gummidipoondi which would be upgraded into a world-class driving research centre in order to bring out quality drivers. The minister also said that the state proposes to set up Heavy Motor Vehicle Driving Schools for increasing the availability of well-trained drivers at a cost of Rs 13 crore in 13 districts.