Govt employees asked to follow traffic rules or face action

By Hirra Azmat

Srinagar, May 16: The government has directed its employees to wear the safety gadgets while driving two wheelers in the Valley.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has issued a circular following which departments issued separate orders asking employees to follow the rules.

“The officials are directed to wear protective head gear (helmet) during official duty. Any violation of the circular instructions shall be taken serious note of by the competent authority and guilty shall be taken to task as per the relevant rules,” the order reads.

An official at the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir said that government took note of repeated complaints that employees were not following the traffic rules.

“The Traffic Department has also raised the issue with departments that employees shall abide traffic rules,” the official said.

According to the official figures, around 11,000 road accidents have been reported annually for the last two years, while three to four people die on an average daily in the state.

A senior Traffic department official said even the pillion rider of two-wheeler would be required to wear helmet.

“Violation would result in imposition of fine under relevant section of Motor Vehicle Act. Rules are for everyone,” the official said.

The official figures of the Traffic Department reveal that campaign has been intensified against traffic violators with increase in challans.

As per the official figures, the Traffic Department has challananed 379319 traffic violators in 2010, comprising 59,782 court challans and 319537 compound challans.

The number of traffic challans in 2016 reached to 662930 comprising 64610 court challans and 598320 compound challans.

The Traffic Department officials said that the increase in number of challans implies that traffic department is collecting more revenue for the government.

“The more the Traffic Department challans to traffic violators, the more revenue is being generated for the state. Thousands of vehicles have also been seized over the years,” the official said.

The actual number, according to police officials, could be much higher as many incidents go unreported.