Leh, Nov 12: In pursuit to spread traffic awareness among youth in particular and public the Traffic Police, Ladakh organised a traffic awareness programme at Eliezer Joldan Memorial (EJM) College, Leh. Previously, they organised such an awareness programme in Govt Degree College Drass. Around a hundred students, faculty members of the college and traffic police officers participated in the event. 

The EJM College faculty welcomed the Traffic Police department headed by SP Traffic, Mohd Rafi Giri and accompanied by DySP Traffic, Rigzin Sandup, District Traffic Inspector Leh, Dorjay Angchuk and other officers/officials.

SP Traffic, Mohd Rafi Giri gave a brief about the annual road accidents taking place in the world, India and in UT Ladakh. He shared that Ladakh Police hired Road Safety Engineer to study road accidents in UT Ladakh and to improve and manage the traffic scenario in the region. He said that number of surveys and studies were conducted in both Leh and Kargil districts, covering FIR data of all Police Stations, to provide a solution to the traffic system. He informed that a few proposals have already been submitted to the government and some are still under consideration. He added that the instant survey of road accidents carried out between 2017-2020 helped in identifying the accident-prone areas and black spots and the reports of which would be shared with concerned departments for desired work. Important intersections of Leh and Kargil towns are being studied for desirable engineering interventions required. He said that recently he participated in Asia’s Largest Traffic Exhibition at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi where the country’s reputed companies showcased their latest traffic gadgets and technology to be adopted for making the traffic system better and synchronised with the latest modern technology. He shared that Ladakh Police would soon invite all such important companies to Ladakh for displaying their expertise and machinery to be incorporated as per the requirements of time and place. 

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He highlighted the Dos/Don’ts that every responsible citizen should practice enhancing the traffic system and thus making it people and tourist-friendly. He elaborated on the New Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019 with the enhancement of fines in offences by the Ministery of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) and requested students who are the future of the society and country to spread the awareness among their friends, family members and society about these rules and regulations. 

An interactive question-and-answer session was also held during the event.

Students requested for a concession in the local transport for them as a student welfare scheme, to which SP Traffic assured to take up the matter with concerned officers through proper channel. He also expressed gratitude to the participants for their interest and active involvement in the event.

Earlier, Assistant Professor Sociology, Sameena Rehman gave the introductory speech.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Assistant Professor Sociology, Spalzes Angmo, who requested the Traffic Police department to organise more such awareness programmes/debates for the students so that a better law-abiding society is created for the good of all.