Bareilly: Divisional Commissioner Bhupendra S. Chaudhary chaired the second meeting of the Divisional Road Safety Committee for 2026 at the Commissionerate auditorium, directing officials to intensify efforts to reduce road accidents through coordinated engineering, enforcement, and public awareness measures.
The meeting reviewed the current road accident scenario across the four districts of the Bareilly division and assessed the progress of measures being implemented to reduce fatalities.
According to the Divisional Transport Officer (Enforcement), road accident fatalities have declined by 7.17 per cent in Bareilly and 10.55 per cent in Badaun, while Pilibhit recorded a 3.50 per cent increase and Shahjahanpur witnessed a sharp 25.51 per cent rise in fatalities. Expressing concern over the increase, the Divisional Commissioner directed officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD) to prioritise engineering improvements at accident-prone locations.
He instructed the agencies to carry out geometry corrections, improve visibility, install traffic signages, rumble strips, and implement other road safety measures at identified black spots. Officials were also asked to prepare an updated list of all accident-prone locations along with details of completed and proposed corrective works for regular monitoring.
Special emphasis was placed on Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur, where accident numbers have risen. The Commissioner directed authorities to immediately install speed limit signs, warning boards, rumble strips, and other safety infrastructure at black spots and critical corridors. He also instructed the Traffic Police and Transport Department to launch joint enforcement drives against overspeeding, drunken driving, and other serious traffic violations. Repeat offenders, he said, should face suspension or cancellation of driving licences and vehicle registration certificates in accordance with the law.
During the meeting, NHAI officials informed that permanent improvement works on the Sitarganj Road are currently not feasible because of the proposed Shamli-Gorakhpur National Highway project. The Commissioner directed that until construction begins, temporary road safety measures, including speed limit signs and effective enforcement against overspeeding, must be ensured along the route.
Expressing particular concern over the increase in road accidents in Shahjahanpur, Chaudhary instructed NHAI officials to immediately survey and close all unauthorised median openings between Bareilly Mod and Jalalabad on the national highway to prevent accidents caused by uncontrolled crossings.
The committee also discussed the growing problem of accidents caused by stray cattle. NHAI informed the meeting that four Incident Manager Teams have been deployed along the nearly 160-kilometre Bareilly–Sitapur National Highway, with each team supported by two trained animal catchers responsible for removing stray animals from the highway. The Commissioner directed NHAI to share details of these teams with the Regional Transport Office and enforcement officials to strengthen inter-departmental coordination. He also instructed NHAI, the PWD, and district administrations to work with the Panchayati Raj Department and Village Road Safety Committees to address the issue in rural areas.
In view of the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, the Commissioner instructed all departments to complete inspections and ensure that pilgrimage routes are fully prepared in advance. He directed officials to make necessary arrangements for traffic management, road repairs, signage, lighting, barricading, medical assistance, and emergency response so that devotees can travel safely and without inconvenience.
The Regional Transport Office also informed the meeting that a special enforcement drive against school vehicles is being conducted from July 1 to July 15 following state government directives. During the campaign, officials are inspecting vehicle fitness certificates, permits, insurance, pollution certificates, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, GPS devices, CCTV cameras, speed governors, and compliance with other mandatory safety norms. The Commissioner directed strict action against vehicles violating safety regulations, stressing that the safety of schoolchildren must remain the highest priority.
Concluding the meeting, Bhupendra S. Chaudhary instructed all departments to adopt the 5E Road Safety Model—Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Emergency Care, and Evaluation/Data—to bring about a sustained reduction in road accidents and fatalities. He emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring coordinated efforts from government agencies and the public alike.
The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya, Additional District Magistrate (City) Avinash Tripathi, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Mohammad Akmal Khan, Joint Director of Health Dr. Tejpal, Regional Transport Officer Pankaj Singh, Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement) Pranav Jha, Joint Director of Secondary Education Raghvendra Kumar, senior engineers from the PWD and NHAI, Assistant Regional Transport Officers (Enforcement), and other divisional officials.
Report by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena from Bareilly.
