IRF CHAIRMAN MR K K KAPILA WRITES TO THE LEADERS OF THE NATIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES,INCLUDING SONIA GANDHI AND ARVIND KEJRIWAL ON ROAD SAFETY

The International Road Federation, (IRF) a Geneva based not-for-profit Organization promoting the cause of Road Safety and Sustainable Road Mobility world wide, while sharing its concern over the growing incidences of fatal road accidents in the country, has urged the various National and Regional political parties in the country to rise above the party ideologies and differences of opinions and contribute to reduce road accidents in the country.

Mr K K Kapila Chairman , IRF

“ India accounts for more than 10 per cent of the total fatal road accidents world wide as the data on road accidents shows that, during the year 2014, about 1.41 lakh people lost their lives in total of 4.5 lakh road accidents and about 4.8 lakh got injured. The fatalities rate had recorded a jump of 3% in comparison to 2013. India being a signatory to the UN General Assembly, which recognized the clear impact of road accidents on global health, adopted 2011-2020 as the UN Decade of Action for road fatalities and accordingly has set a target to reduce them by 50% by 2020.” said Mr K K Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation (IRF) in his letter written to various political party leaders including, the INC Chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi, AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, TDP head and West Bengal CM Ms Mamta Banerjee, BSP Superemo Ms Mayawati and BJP President Amit Shah.

“ Despite various initiatives taken by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the current scenario demands that the efforts have to be intensified and carried on at a more micro level. The complexity of road safety, more so in a vast country like India, when localised will produce better and faster results. One such localisation can be implemented through the local area peoples’ representatives – the MPs and MLAs. As per the current provisions, the Development Funds under MPLAD can be used for construction of footpaths, pedestrian ways, signages, education and road engineering.” Mr Kapila Said.

“The MPs/MLAs, in a show of responsibility towards their area, as a part of the development work, need to encourage and focus on road safety. In association with the RWAs and related local authorities, relevant programmes, such as removal of black spots, construction of footpaths, pedestrian ways, road safety awareness education, traffic obedience and enforcement must be adopted and funded. This would successfully sensitise the general masses to appreciate the importance of adopting safe road practices.” He added.

“The hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, reacting to the dismal scenario, had conveyed his commitment to road safety through the national programme ‘’Mann Ki Baat’’ and announced various measures that his government would usher in, in the near future. IRF has requested heads of various political parties to join India’s Road Safety mission and motivate the MPs/MLAs in the Party Ranks to lead their constituencies from the front for incorporating road safety measures. Road Safety is an issue which cuts across the Party ideologies and differences of opinion and as such focused efforts by all of you is earnestly requested to save human lives and benefit the society at large.” He said.

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