Road Safety Fund: Bengal Government Introduces Road Safety Fund to Enhance Infrastructure and Reduce Accidents | Kolkata News

Kolkata: The Bengal government has introduced Road Safety Fund, aimed at improving road safety across the state. This initiative targets reduction of road fatalities, prevention of accident-related impairments, identification of accident-prone areas (black spots), enhancement of trauma care networks, implementation of intelligent road surveillance, and enforcement of speed regulations.“Though we never hesitated to spend on reducing road traffic accidents and fatalities, there was no dedicated fund. This fund will enable us to take several measures to reduce road fatalities. Kolkata boasts possibly the best road safety, surveillance model, and accident response system connected to trauma care facilities. We will replicate this model throughout the state,” said Bengal’s transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty. An order issued by transport secretary, Saumitra Mohan, outlines a comprehensive financial roadmap for the initiative. All road safety expenditures will be covered under specific budgetary allocations set by the finance department. At the end of each fiscal year, 30% of the receipts from these accounts will be credited to the Road Safety Fund.A significant portion of the fund, the order said, will be dedicated to strengthening trauma care services. This includes enhancing coordination with trauma centers to ensure timely medical treatment during accidents and emergencies. To modernise road safety measures, the fund will support the development and maintenance of advanced road safety software, web portals, and emergency services. Additionally, geo-tagging platforms will be implemented to enhance the tracking and management of road safety data. Infrastructure upgrades are a major focus of the Road Safety Fund. The fund will support minor road repairs and the identification and rectification of black spots to prevent crashes. It will also help in establishing automated stations for vehicle testing and driver skill assessment . It will also support installing and maintaining of essential road safety features such as signage, road markings, mirrors, guard rails, speed bumps, raised pavement markers (RPM), and traffic signals. In compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the fund will facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic monitoring and enforcement equipment. The transport department head will chair the Road Safety Fund Committee, with the additional or joint secretary of the Budget Cell acting as the road safety manager.

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