Ex-SC judge Abhay Sapre orders steps to cut road deaths in Nagpur, 'no helmet, no petrol' mooted

Special steps have been ordered to reduce deaths in road accidents in Nagpur district. The directions were given by Abhay Sapre, chairman of the Supreme Court's road safety committee and a former Supreme Court judge, who chaired a meeting at the District Planning Building.

Sapre said clear instructions should be issued to all government departments, industrial groups and educational institutions to make the use of helmets and seat belts compulsory. It should also be ensured that no one is allowed in without a helmet or seat belt. He also asked that a "no helmet, no petrol" system be considered.

Sapre said about 5 lakh road accidents occur in the country every year, in which nearly 2 lakh people lose their lives. According to him, strict enforcement of traffic rules is necessary to reduce accidents.

He directed all departments concerned to work together on concrete measures to bring the number of accidents in Nagpur district down to zero. He added that if the education, traffic and other departments work jointly and run a public awareness campaign, the number of accidents can certainly be reduced.

Sapre asked for immediate action on the measures and for a report on it to be submitted by December. He also directed strict action against those who violate traffic rules.

The meeting was told that Maharashtra has 9 of the 100 districts in the country that are vulnerable in terms of road accidents, and Nagpur is among them. It was also placed on record that accidents are more frequent in the rural areas of the district.

Sapre said that merely framing rules is not enough, and that effective implementation and wide public awareness are also necessary. He asked all departments to remain alert so that no innocent person loses their life in accidents.

Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil, SP Harsh Poddar, DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar and the municipal corporation's chief engineer Leena Tapadhye were among the officials present.