Odisha: Vehicles going on picnic or pilgrimage need to get permission from RTO
Vehicles going on picnic or pilgrimage need to get permission from their respective Regional Transport Officers (RTOs), informed the Commerce and Transport Department of Odisha government.
Bhubaneswar: Vehicles going on picnic or pilgrimage need to get permission from their respective Regional Transport Officers (RTOs), informed the Commerce and Transport Department of Odisha government.
The Commerce and Transport Department has issued guidelines for picnics following the instructions of Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, who has urged to follow the guidelines strictly so that potential accidents during the picnic season can be checked.
The State Transport Authority has instructed all RTOs and ARTOs to emphasise proper enforcement. Accidents often occur at picnic spots due to drunk and reckless driving. For this, tourist vehicle drivers will be tested with breath analyzers and strict action will be taken against traffic rule violators.
In addition, these guidelines have given priority to four ‘Es’ of road safety – Enforcement, Engineering, Education and Emergency Care.
The guidelines mention how to ensure the convenience of the passengers and their safe return. All the work will be done under the supervision of the District Collector, in which the SP, RTO, CDMO will also be involved. Efforts will be made to ensure that the joy of picnic does not turn into tragedy due to road accident.
Those who have gone out for picnics should follow all the road safety rules, the State Transport Authority said while issuing warning of action as per the Motor Vehicles Act if road safety rules are violated.
Major picnic spots have been identified and special enforcement teams will be deployed. Besides, checking on both the entry and exit routes by the police and transport department will be conducted and strict action will be taken against reckless driving. Action will also be taken for overloading, unsafe transportation and illegal use of vehicles.
In crowded places, emergency care and treatment of accident victims during golden hours will be emphasized. Before school and college students go on picnics, their educational institutions have been directed to take care of their safety. All documents must be present in the vehicle going for the picnic and school teachers and college professors will also be present for the safety of the students.
While the Tourism Department will keep records of parking, signage and number of passengers, the road construction companies will make necessary road repairs. They will improve signage, hazard markers and barricades. During this time, awareness will also be made on speeding, overloading, wearing helmets/seat belts and pedestrian safety. Similarly, necessary precautionary measures will be taken in view of the fog.
