7. RELIEF TO VICTIMS UNDER CHIEF MINISTER'S ACCIDENT RELIEF FUND

 Immediate relief is given to victims of road accidents or to their relatives under the Chief Minister's Accident Relief Fund.

         The scale of relief is as follows : 

 In cases of fatal accidents involving passengers travelling in buses belonging to State Transport Undertakings, an exgratia payment of Rs.50,000/- is made  to the families of the victims, under the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.

 8. ROAD SAFETY 

  A State level long term and short term Road Safety Plan is a pre-requisite for taking upon measures in a coordinated manner for achieving sustainable improvement in Road Safety.  The Plan should set up measurable long term and mid term Road Safety targets, build capacity of local institutions and provide sources for financing of road safety measures.  The plan should include various components like creation of clear data base, raising awareness and understanding of Road Safety problem, Road Safety education and training, traffic safety legislation, enforcing of traffic laws and monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of Road Safety activities.  Besides, improvement of Road Safety requires participation of many different organisations and sectors.

Against the above backdrop, the Government have taken extensive steps as indicated below.  An action Plan has been prepared for Road Safety with certain definite targets to be implemented in Tamil Nadu during the next 2 years. The plan provides for among other things:

1. (I)                  Purchase of road safety equipments for traffic control/regulation by the Commissionerates and police districts at a cost of Rs. 3.75 crores.  The items include Reflective Batons, Reflective Jackets, Traffic Cones, Rubber Decelerators, Reflective Marking Barricades, PVC Column with PVC Chain, Regulatory Traffic Lights, Cats Eye, Reflective Road Marker, Radar Guns, Breath Analyzer, etc.  
2. (II)                 Establishment of 13 Emergency Accident Relief Centres on stretches of National Highways 4, 7, 45 and 46 at a distance of 50 k.ms. from one another with ambulances and wireless equipments, medical facilities and Paramedical staff.  The ambulances will be obtained from  Government of India Organisations like Ministry of Road Transport and Highways  under the National Highways Accident Relief Scheme or private hospitals or the ones already provided will be utilised.   The operating costs will be met from the Road Safety Fund for which an amount of Rs. 50,000 per month for each ambulance (Centre) will be provided.  Thus, totally the recurring cost will be Rs. 78 lakhs per annum.
3. (III)                Upgradation of accident and emergency facilities at a cost of Rs. 3.38 crores  in the hospitals at the following  towns:

(Rs. in lakhs)

1)  Krishnagiri                       :       68.00
2)  Hosur                              :       68.00
3)  Ambur                             :       66.00
4)  Sriperumpudur                 :        68.00
5)  Tindivanam                      :        68.00
                         Total          :      338.00 

a)         A sound data base has been created in the  Offices of the  Director General of Police and  Transport Commissioner to evaluate the accident rate regularly in order to determine the responsibilities of all parties effectively and the factors calling for priority attention;

b)         Accident Prone Zones throughout Tamil Nadu are being identified for improvement on  priority basis;

c)         Intensive drills have been prescribed by Transport Department for issue of driving licences.  The procedure is being tightened so that only competent drivers will get driving licences.  Similarly,  the fitness certificates for commercial vehicles are being issued after vigorous check;

1. d)                 Awareness Campaign is being launched to educate the people to wear helmets, seat belts and to obey traffic rules.  The Government believe in the policy of persuasion and education rather than invoking penal provisions;
2. e)                 It is proposed to establish a training institute for drivers and traffic police to educate them on the importance of road safety.  A draft Plan has been prepared for this;
3. f)                    Since enforcement of traffic regulations is an integrated part of road safety, checking of over-speeding, over-loading, drunken driving and taking action against other offences have been intensified;
4. g)                 The electronic and print media have been moved to project objective information about road safety;
5. h)                  Above all, road safety measures are being closely monitored and co-ordination ensured at Government level so that the programmes do not suffer a set back.  Similarly, Transport Commissioner in his capacity as the Road Safety Commissioner of Tamil Nadu is holding meetings to provide necessary thrust to the programmes.

 9.  COMPUTERISATION 

The issuance of Driving Licence, Registration Certificates, Permits and Tax etc., takes place through computer in 17 offices of Regional Transport Officers.  The counter service in these offices is fast, efficient and hassle free.   Further, other Modules viz. Accounts, Establishment, Inventory, Pay Roll etc., are being tested for implementation so as to ensure that the office work is mostly handled through computers.  

Under Phase-II, computerisation of 35 unit offices, 3 check posts, 31 Regional Transport Offices and 7 Zonal offices will be taken up.

Through Computerisation, the Transport Department will be able to provide fast and efficient service to the Public.  The waiting time in office would be considerably reduced.  The data on Driving Licences, Registration Certificates, Permits and Taxation particulars at different locations of Regional Transport Offices, can be quickly transmitted to State Transport Authority through file transfer protocol (ftp) and the same can be cross checked for any purpose.  This will eliminate the possibility of issue of bogus licences and certificates.  Various reports on the taxes due to the Government can be generated instantly. 

10. TESTING TRACKS 

Driving skill of the candidate has to be tested properly before issuing a driving licence.  For this purpose, driving test tracks are necessary.  Till a few years back, there was no driving range in Tamil Nadu exclusively for this purpose and driving tests were being conducted on roads.  Realising the importance of proper training and effective testing of drivers, the Government have embarked on a programme of construction of testing tracks.  The ultimate aim is to provide atleast one testing track per district.  Under the said programme, tracks have been constructed in Dharmapuri, Thanjavur, Thirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Kancheepuram and Virudhunagar.  Construction work is under progress in Dindigul, Namakkal, Thiruvallur and Perambalur.  The work will be taken up soon at Periyakulam, Thiruvannamalai and Thoothukudi. 

11.  CONTROL OF AIR & NOISE  POLLUTION CAUSED BY MOTOR VEHICLES

The control of air and noise pollution caused by automobiles has not been given adequate attention all these years.  These have become a source of health hazard.  In the review of the department in June 2001 by the Honourable Chief Minister, it was decided that pollution control measures should be enforced strictly. This department has, therefore, taken certain steps as indicated below:

i)          The emission check on vehicles will be made mandatory throughout Tamil Nadu from 1.6.2002. (At present, this is limited to 5 districts only);

ii)         For checking vehicles, testing centers will be set up in Tamil Nadu with technologically advanced machines. Stringent guidelines will be prescribed for this;

iii)        Menace caused by air horns will be put down heavily.  As a first step, air horns have been removed from all Metropolitan Transport Corporation and State Express Transport Corporation buses;

iv)        The police have been authorised to notify no-horn (silence)  zones wherever necessary;

v)         The No-Governmental Organisations and voluntary organisations will be associated in these tasks.

 12.       OTHER INITIATIVES DURING 2001-2002 

Apart from the preparation of comprehensive Road Safety Plan and the measures taken to reduce Noise and Air Pollution caused by motor vehicles, the modernisation of check posts at Hosur, Kande Gounden  Chavadi and Pethikuppam has been given a special thrust.  The pattern obtaining in Gujarat has been studied and a report prepared.  This is being examined in consultation with Commercial Taxes department from the angle of establishing integrated check-posts.  As announced  during the Demand for 2001-2002:  

1. §         For the benefit of public and vehicle owners visiting Regional Transport Office, Thoothukudi the Government have issued orders for putting a Waiting Hall and Toilet.  The work will be completed shortly.  Similarly, orders have been issued for construction of driving range in Thoothukudi.  The work will be taken up shortly.
2. §         With regard to inter-State agreements for stage carriages/transport services, negotiations have reached an advanced stage with the Government of Pondichery and the official level talks are going on with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. 

 CONCLUSION 

The Government fully recognize that Transport infrastructure is the backbone of economy.  The Government are gearing up the Transport Department so that it is in a position to enforce all the motor vehicle rules and regulations effectively and to provide services efficiently and so as to subserve the interests of the society at large and ensure that the transport infrastructure serves to promote the welfare of the people.   

                                                   R. VISWANATHAN
                                         MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT