Jamshedpur: East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan has ordered regular inspections, patrolling and drone surveillance on national highways to prevent accidents, clear encroachments and ensure safer public movement.Chairing Saturday’s district highway and road safety task force meeting, Ranjan said drone surveys must complement CCTV installation, GPS-based monitoring, ATMS and e-Challan systems to check illegal parking, roadside encroachments, illegal dhabas, eateries and other commercial structures along highways.Road safety, he said, is not merely about obeying rules but about protecting lives and families. “Behind every accident there may be a family’s anxiety and the pain of losing a loved one,” DC said.He stressed keeping highway Right of Way (RoW) areas free of encroachments and directed all departments to work in coordination to implement safety measures effectively and sensitively.The meeting reviewed measures for accident-prone blackspots, lighting, emergency medical assistance, cranes, lay-bys, parking areas and wayside amenities. Officials also reviewed July accident data, which showed 21 road accidents and six deaths. Expressing concern, Ranjan directed officials to analyse causes and take preventive steps.The review identified driver negligence, overspeeding, reckless driving and drunk driving as major causes. Ranjan ordered continued enforcement against helmetless riding, triple riding, driving without seat belts, overspeeding and drunk driving.In July, enforcement drives collected Rs 9.61 lakh in fines for helmet, triple-riding and seat-belt violations, and Rs 38,000 in drunk driving cases.He also directed installation of speed-limit, no-parking, school-zone, no-honking, U-turn, pedestrian crossing, directional and warning signs wherever needed, besides prompt repair of damaged signs and reflective markings visible at night.
