ODISHA TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT INKS MOU WITH NCC TO LAUNCH ‘JUNIOR RAKSHAK’ INITIATIVE
Bhubaneswar(07/03/2024): The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Directorate and the Commerce & Transport Department of Odisha signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the ‘Junior Rakshak’ initiative. The MoU was signed by Lal Mohan Sethi, Additional Commissioner Transport / (Road Safety) and Sagar K Mohanty, Director, NCC, Odisha.
This strategic alliance of Junior Rakshak is poised to revolutionise road safety initiatives through collaborative efforts in education and training with a shared goal for creating a culture of preparedness and swift response among citizens.
These NCC cadets-cum-Junior Rakshak will be the future Road Safety Ambassadors who will help in spreading road safety awareness among their friends, family and public. With the signing of the MoU, Odisha embarks on a transformative journey towards a future where road accidents are minimized, lives are saved, and communities thrive.
Together, a pledge to spread awareness, instil responsible behaviour, and empower the youth to become the frontline defenders of road safety was taken. The Minister also inaugurated the Automated Driving Testing System (ADTS) at six locations - Angul, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Ganjam. Under the 5T initiative, Automated Driving Testing Systems (ADTS) is going to be implemented to help reduce accidents by ensuring that only qualified aspirants receive driving licenses.
This objective and automated testing process for driving license makes it more efficient and transparent compared to manual testing procedures.
In due course of time this ADTS will be implemented at all RTO offices in the state. Further under 5T initiatives, foundation stone was laid for 23 proposed Truck Terminal locations by the Minister of Commerce and Transport Department.
Roadside illegal parking is a significant cause of road accidents.
Over the past 2-3 years accidents involving Parked Vehicles on the side of the road accounted for 2207 accidents and 852 fatalities.
Heavy Motor Vehicles are parked on the roadside due to inadequate parking facilities within the districts.
Long-route drivers experience stress due to lack of sufficient sleep, and this is a significant contributor to road accidents.
For this, the Commerce & Transport Department is going to construct Truck Terminals across the state to provide basic amenities along with cargo loading and unloading, fueling etc. Tukuni Sahu, Minister of Commerce & Transport Department & Water Resources Department said, “Transport Department has initiated many initiatives starting from proper training and testing of drivers to having resting place for long route drivers along with distribution of free tea to drivers during late night to early morning to avoid drowsiness of drivers." She requested everyone to follow road safety rules and to make Odisha an accident free State and to be the “Sarathi” of New Odisha.
