Officials mull ways to curb accidents

POLICE OFFICIALS at the convergence meeting said that the percentage of death of pedestrians in accidents stood at 31 per cent.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner D.S. Lokesh Kumar on Friday asked officials to provide signboards specifying speed limits in order to prevent accidents and regulate the traffic. Most city roads are suitable for a speed limit of 40 km per hour.

Participating in a city convergence meeting on Saturday, Mr Kumar directed officials of different departments to share with each other the new proposals they were coming up. This should be done so as not to damage other utilities when development work is taken up.

He stated that all roadcutting proposals and estimates should be submitted to the Comprehensive Road Maintenance Project (CRMP) agencies so that they execute the works immediately.

Police officials at the meeting said the percentage of death of pedestrians in accidents stood at 31 per cent, and asked Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) officials to raise the height of central medians in order regulate pedestrian movement and prevent crossover at unauthorised spots. Most of the accidents were occurring when pedestrians were crossing the road over the central medians particularly

in Kukatpally and Serilingampally.

On illumination of dark spots to improve road safety, the GHMC commissioner asked officials to complete the work by February 29.

The issue of shifting of electric poles and improvement of footpaths came up for discussion at the meeting, and also notification of parking places at Metro Rail stations. It was decided that all water and drainage works will be handed over to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) for maintenance. On the request of HMWS&SB officials, it was decided not to penalise water tankers as they were providing an essential service.

The GHMC commissioner asked officials to share the data on allotment of houses under schemes like JNNURM and Vambay from 2000 in order to eliminate duplication.

He asked discom officials to connect solar power to the grid so that the solar power generation could commence on GHMC buildings.