SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE (SPA) ADDS ROAD SAFETY IN IT’S MASTER DEGREE CURRICULUM

“Delhi Traffic police had identified and provided a list of ten “black spot” locations where maximum number of accidents occur, based on data collected during the year 2014. The total number of accident spots identified by Traffic Police are 128 in Delhi. The ten spots identified include Sarai Kale Khan, Kashmere Gate chowk (Morigate), Nigam Bodh Ghat, Mukundpur Chowk, Dr Bhahbha Marg crossing, Punjabi Bagh Chowk, ISBT Kashmere Gate, Mahipalpur Flyover, Shani Mandir and Shahdara Flyover. International Road Federation with support from Union Road Ministry had prepared a report to fix deadly black spots and submitted to Delhi Government in February This year. ” said Mr K K Kapila. Chairman, International Road Federation (IRF), a Geneva based global body working for safer and better roads while inaugurating a day long seminar on ‘Initiative towards combating road accidents in India’ organised by Department of Transport Planning, School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) here today.

” Though fatalities have plummeted from 2,153 in 2010 to 1,532 in 2015 in Delhi, the capital still has the dubious distinction of recording the highest number of road deaths. Black Spots can be improved through the application of accident investigation and engineering prevention techniques. Simple engineering measures such as improving visibility by removing hazards, installation of street lighting, redesigning of junctions and roadway to accommodate the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, provision of appropriate road markings and traffic are proven measures which significantly reduce road accidents” said Mr Kapila.

“The Parliamentarian’s and politicians cutting across party lines should introduce the much awaited proposed Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 in the current session of parliament and get it passed to reduce fatal road accidents in the country. India accounts for 10 Per cent of the total global road deaths .During the year 2015 more than 1.46 lakh people died in road accidents and India is signatory to UN Decade of Action programme to reduce road deaths by 50% by the year 2010”added Mr Kapila.

“Architects ,designers and Engineers have a major role in reducing road accident deaths in the country . The School of Planning and Architecture,(SPA) on its part has introduced Road safety as part of curriculum in its master it’s Master of Planning with Specialization in Transport programme. This is the second year in running” said Prof P.K.Sarkar, Director, Department of Transport Planning, SPA.

The others who spoke at the seminar included Dr Prof.Chetan Vaidya ,Director, SPA, Dr D P Gupta, Former Director General, Road Development, Dr S.M.Sarin, former, Director, CRRI, Prof Sewagram of SPA and Mr Rohit Baluja, President, IRTE.