The Hindu              08.01.2014

More funds for road safety, says Minister

“The Tamil Nadu government is spending Rs. 40 crore to ensure road safety in the State by setting up traffic signals and carrying out road-widening projects,” said Sellur K. Raju, Minister for Cooperation at an awareness programme here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the road safety week, the Minister said that as part of its vision 2023 the State government has announced projects worth Rs. 15 lakh crore for the development of transport sector, urban infrastructure and so on. Funds worth Rs. 3 lakh crore has been allotted for building quality roads and development of transport sector, he added.

The allotment of funds for development of State highways has increased from Rs. 5,615 crore in 2012-13 to Rs. 6,452 crore in the year 2013-14. Also, to aid speed control and effective traffic management, equipment worth Rs. 8.5 lakh have been provided to Madurai city police.

The Minister was visibly moved when he recounted the fatal accident involving his son a few years ago.

Mr. Raju, who shared the memories of his loss, had a message for the audience.

“Everyone in this hall, especially, youngsters must follow traffic rules and lead a safe and happy life. None of you should go through what I have undergone”, he said.

It may be noted that the district has witnessed a decline in the number of road accidents from 2,862 cases in 2012 to 2,676 in 2013.

Samanth Rohan Rajendra, Deputy Commissioner (Law and Order), Madurai, who spoke on the occasion mentioned the recent traffic changes made in the city with the help of the Corporation, for better flow of vehicular traffic.

Mr. Rohan asked the students present to offer their suggestions, by contacting him on his mobile phone or by sending an email.

Minister K. Raju gave away prizes to some of the best call taxi, school bus and government bus drivers in the city. Earlier in the day, an awareness rally was flagged off by Collector L. Subramanian from the collectorate to Madittsia Hall.

Students of various colleges took part in the rally.

V.V. Rajan Chellappa, Madurai Corporation Mayor, S. Yellapparaj, Assistant Commissioner (traffic), P. Mahendravel, Director, Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank, also spoke at the inaugural function organised by Voice Trust and Maditssia in association with the city police,

Regional Transport Department and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.