Odisha Govt asks police to take up 'no helmet-no fuel' as mass movement

Bhubaneswar, May 27 (PTI) In its bid to ensure road safety, the Odisha government today asked the police to take up the 'no helmet-no fuel' initiative as a public movement and ensure its implementation in petrol outlets across the state, besides identifying black spots on the National and State Highways.

The suggestion was given by Chief Secretary A P Padhi while reviewing implementation of road safety measures in the state at a high level meeting.

Padhi directed the works department to expedite corrective works on major black spots within two month.

The NHAI was told to act promptly on observations of the Supreme Court Committee and start corrective works of the black spots on National Highways and was asked to fix appropriate signages and signals on NHs and bypass roads leading to various towns and cities within a month.

Padhi said the goal to reduce road accidents could be achieved only if transport, police and works departments work together towards implementation of road safety measures and enforcement of rules.

On the availability of trauma care centres for road accident victims in the state, Padhi said the state government has been proposing to set up eight more trauma care centres in addition to the existing eight such centres.

The issues relating to identification of black spots, necessary corrective measures, checking of drink and drive, suspension of driving licenses of habitual traffic offenders, establishment of trauma care centres etc. were discussed and sorted out in the meeting, Padhi said.

"The police have been advised to take up 'no helmet-no fuel' initiative as a public movement and ensure its implementation," he said.

Driving licenses of drivers committing more than five offences were being suspended. As of now, 18,000 licenses have been suspended.

Meanwhile, the NHAI has identified 23 black spots on National Highways and 13 black spots on state roads. The state police have identified around 200 black spots in 26 districts bases on incidences of accidents and causalities during last three years, officials said.

Padhi directed officials to complete the identification of black spots, share the information among each other and start corrective measures within two months, an official release said.