Eyeing to reduce the road fatalities by around 3000 annually, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday flagged off 129 hi-tech vehicles of the country's first of its kind ‘Sadak Surakhya Force’.
Addressing the gathering here today in a function to launch this force here today at PAP grounds, the Chief Minister said that this is a historic occasion as Punjab has become the first state to launch this ambitious scheme to save the precious lives of people. He said that all the officers had played a key role in constitution of this force and then its dedication to the people. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that it will go a long way in saving the lives of people and streamlining the traffic movement.
The Chief Minister said that the idea for forming this force has not came overnight but it has been a result of gross introspection of this serious problem. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as MP he had vehemently raised issue of road accidents in Lok Sabha as 12 deaths take place in state due to these mishaps. He said that since then it was in his mind that a force will be formed to save the lives of people in the coming days adding that today his dream has come true.
The Chief Minister said that with the constitution of this force, the Police will be able to discharge its Policing duties far more effectively. He said that the vehicles that have been roped in for the force are one of the finest vehicle across the world. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that SSF will be instrumental in saving the lives of common man and from now onwards the data of every month will be analysed to judge the working of SSF and data will be shared with the people after every month.
The Chief Minister said that this is a step forward towards making Punjab the safest state in terms of road accidents. He said that the day is not far when this motive is achieved in the larger public interest for the well being of state and its people. Bhagwant Singh Mann also asked the staff of SSF to discharge their duties effectively and honestly to save the lives of people.
The Chief Minister said that points will also be kept for the driving licenses so that in coming times chronic violators are punished by cancelling their Driving licenses. He said that this is the need of hour to make sure that people abide by traffic rules and vehicular movement is streamlined. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is matter of immense pride and satisfaction that a large number of girls are joining the force and 90 drivers of the SSF vehicles are girls.
The Chief Minister said that this force has been launched as a plan for road safety for covering 5500 km of state and national highways. He opined that Punjab has witnessed a significant increase in traffic and road infrastructure over the past few decades. Bhagwant Singh Mann expressed concern that 65% of road fatalities take place on the national and state highways adding that most of these fatal accidents take place between 6:00 pm to 12:00 pm, when the presence of police on these roads is minimal.
The Chief Minister said that as many as 129 patrolling vehicles, fitted with specialized equipment to check drunken driving and over speeding, will be deployed on these routes, each covering a distance of 30 kilometres. He said that Police personnel who have been imparted quality training are being deployed in Sadak Suraksha Force out of the newly recruited cops. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that training was imparted at Kapurthala adding that this force will be pivotal to check the fatality rate due to road accidents in the state on one hand and to streamline the movement of traffic on the roads of the state on the other.
The Chief Minister said that the first of its kind specialized force will be instrumental to save several precious lives that are lost in road accidents daily in Punjab adding that this force will be entrusted with the task of checking rash driving, streamlining vehicular movement on roads and others to check the road accidents. He said that these vehicles will also have a complete medical kit for providing emergency treatment to any person in need. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the force will be duly connected with trauma centres to ensure that people get required medical help on time.
The Chief Minister said that daily around 14 precious lives are lost in road accidents in Punjab. He said that this causality can be checked by manning the roads well for which ‘Sadak Surakhya Force’ has been constituted in the Punjab Police. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that this force will be instrumental with the task of checking rash driving, streamlining vehicular movement on roads and others to check the road accidents adding that it will reduce the burden on cops deployed in Police stations.
The Chief Minister said that Police is doing its duty in a fair and impartial manner to assure that justice is given to people. He said that instead of using the Police as a remote and a computer his government has handed over these gadgets in the hands of cops to enhance their efficiency. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is leaving no stone unturned for the well being of the Police force so that they discharge their duty efficiently.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab was a frontrunner and Punjab will always continue to be that as Punjabis have been blessed with indomitable spirit of hard work and resilience. He said that the state government is performing its duty meticulously and zealously to ensure that Punjab leads the country in every sphere. Bhagwant Singh Mann exhorted the people to play a proactive role by supporting the state government in a noble cause.
The Chief Minister also launched the phase I roadmap of the SSF on which the vehicles will move in the state.
On the occasion Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, Home Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Additional Director General of Police MF Farooki and AS Rai were also present.