SHIMLA: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the government would set up three new Traffic-cum-Tourist-Police stations on 191 km long Kiratpur-Mandi-Manali Four lane national highway to ensure safe movement of traffic. The Highway will be thrown open to the traffic by June 20, 2023.
These police stations will be opened in Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu districts mainly at T and Y junctions of the Highway.
It will be operated with Intelligent Traffic Management System with Control Room at each police station. With this, quick police assistance will be ensured in case of accidents on the four-lane.
Sukhu also directed the concerned departments to prepare a detailed report on the jurisdiction of these police stations.
CM announced this after reviewing the road safety on the Fore Lane highway here.
The Chief Minister said that about 182 km of this four-lane road from Kiratpur to Manali, about 191 km long, would pass through three districts of the state, Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu.
Chief Minister said that trauma centers would be marked on this four-lane road, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bilaspur, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College & Hospital, Nerchowk, Mandi and regional hospitals of all the three districts.
This will ensure quick treatment to the affected in case of emergency. Arrangements for ambulances, recovery vehicles etc. will also be made at certain places on this highway, he added.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the use of advanced technology is being ensured in coordination with the National Highway Authority of India and the State Police for smooth operation of traffic on this National Highway, reducing the chances of accidents.
For this, an Advanced Traffic Management System has been prepared.
Under this, emergency call boxes along with high tech CCTV cameras, automatic traffic counter-cum-classifiers, Vehicle Actuated Speed Displays and Overhead Driver Feedback System, variable message signs, video incident detection system and Met device are also being installed.
Besides command and control centre at toll plaza and connectivity through optic fibere along NH.
He also directed to increase the number of display boards related to speed limits. He urged the National Highways Authority of India to provide financial assistance for the Integrated Command Center.
Chief Minister said that the safety of the people of the state and other passengers passing through this route is the topmost priority of the state government.
Adequate funds for establishment of police stations etc. will be provided.
He directed the Transport Department to submit its report in five days after field verification of the speed limit on the entire four-lane.
Director General of Police, Sanjay Kundu said that a study will be done to make all necessary arrangements from the point of view of security at T and Y junction under this four-lane Highway.
Regional Officer, National Highways Authority of India, Abdul Basit informed that this Four-Lane National Highway will be completely ready by 15th to 20th June, 2023.
He said that crash barriers on the valley side, footpaths and over bridges have been constructed for the safety of commuters and passers-by.
Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary, Transport, R.D. Nazim, Principal Secretary, Home, Bharat Kheda, Secretary, Health, M. Sudha Devi, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Ajay Gupta, Director, Transport, Anupam Kashyap and senior officers of concerned departments and National Highways Authority of India also attended the meeting.
