Government to rank districts on road safety parameters

NEW DELHI: Taking a cue from the Swachhata ranking of cities, the govt will carry out ranking of districts on road safety parameters. Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday directed his ministry to work out the details for carrying out the exercise which will also determine the best and worst performers.

The minister issued this direction while chairing a day-long brainstorming session on road safety with officials from different ministries, state govts and experts. Sources said the ministry will work with the Niti Aayog to finalise the parameters.

Gadkari also instructed officials to integrate “safe school zone” while planning construction and expansion of roads. District road safety committees (DRSCs) will include this provision while evaluating any plan, sources said. DRSCs will play a crucial role in the implementation of the Centre’s major schemes such as cashless treatment to road crash victims and giving financial rewards to good samaritans who take crash victims to hospitals for immediate medical care.

Sources said responding to a suggestion on the need to have experts to assist DRSCs, road transport secretary V Umashankar said industry bodies such as CII and FICCI can extend their support.