Road safety awareness programme along NH-40
SHILLONG: The week-long awareness programme on road safety conducted by the implementing agency of the Umiam-Jorabat expressway, IL&FS, concluded on Saturday.Banners and posters spreading awareness on road safety measures were put on display along NH-40 as part of the programme.
Hundreds of vehicles ply the busy Guwahati-Shillong road every day and it is no surprise, therefore, that the highway is prone to accidents.
The organisers hoped that the road safety awareness programme conducted under the theme, “Road safety-time for action” will go a long way in curbing accidents along the route.Speaking to media persons, the safety engineer of the project said that the implementing agency has taken several measures to ensure safety of the people along the highway and banners and signage have been put up all over for the convenience of the commuters.
“We also have patrol vehicles and ambulances to attend to accident victims along the highway,” the official claimed.
Reacting to a query on the problem of landslides along the expressway, the official said that the company is constructing retaining walls in vulnerable areas as per the report submitted by IIT Roorkee. In addition, an awareness programme was also organized in Umroi village by the district administration and Meghalaya Police. A ‘safety walkathon’ was also organized the same day at Byrnihat while a blood donation camp was organized at Bethany Hospital, Nongpoh in collaboration with Regional Blood Bank, Pasteur Institute, Shillong.
Meanwhile, the SOS Children’s Village, a leading child care non-government organization at Umiam, took out a procession on Friday as part of Road Safety Week from January 11 to 17. During this period, a series of events like poster making, slogan writing, essay writing and quiz competition on road safety were organised to create awareness among children.Earlier on Friday traffic cops had taken out a bike rally in Shillong to generate awareness on road safety.