Himachal govt to set up Rs 30 crore Road Safety Command Centre in Hamirpur

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced that a state-of-the-art Road Safety Control and Command Centre will soon be established in Hamirpur at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore under the Integrated Road Safety Enforcement System.

The centre will be connected with modern surveillance cameras being installed across the state to facilitate e-challans, real-time traffic monitoring, and enforcement of road discipline, he said, adding that this initiative will not only enhance road safety but also help generate additional revenue for the state.

Advertisement

He said that several initiatives are being implemented under the Himachal Pradesh State Road Transformation Project to strengthen road safety measures. Around Rs 60 crore is being spent to procure 3,373 road safety enforcement devices for the police department, to be distributed across ten districts, he said.

He flagged off 66 patrol vehicles to be deployed across ten districts of the State, including Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, Kullu, Sirmaur, Solan and Chamba. The vehicles, purchased at a cost of Rs 18.42 crore, include 35 electric vehicles, 14 interceptor vehicles, 10 wrecker vehicles, and seven four-wheel-drive diesel vehicles.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government aims not only to reduce road accidents but also to create a safe and disaster-resilient transport system.

He pointed out that road accidents in Himachal Pradesh have steadily declined over the past three years, reflecting the coordinated efforts of the Police, Transport Department, Public Works Department, Himachal Pradesh Road and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Health Department and other concerned agencies.

Sukhu said that the deployment of wrecker vehicles will help ensure smooth traffic flow by promptly removing damaged vehicles from accident sites.

The Chief Minister said that the government is modernizing the police department to make the Himachal Pradesh Police one of the best in the country.

As many as 1,200 constables have been recruited, and after eight years, the B-1 test for police promotions is being conducted, he added.

Appreciating the department’s efforts to curb drug abuse, he said a major statewide campaign against the menace will soon be launched.