Road Safety on National Highway No. 44 (Sonapur Region)

To
PEOPLE OF BARAK VALLEY
Subject

Ref. Press Meet on 23rd May’2010 Seeking Support for Road Safety Campaign for Implementation of Road Safety Equipments at Tongseng, Sonapur and Malidor on National Highway No. 44

Reference: Appeal to:

Her Excellency, Pratibha Patil, President of India
Copy to:
Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Govt. of India.
Shri. Kamal Nath, Hon’ble, Union Minister Road and Transport, Govt. of India.
Shri. Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary, Indian National Congress.
(Special Attention for visiting major accidental areas to install Road Safety equipments mentioned accidental areas)
Shri. Tarun Gogoi, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Assam.
Shri. Mukul Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Meghalaya.
Shri. Manik Sarkar, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Tripura.
Shri. Okram Ibobi Singh, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Manipur.
Shri. Pu Zoramthanga, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Mizoram.
Lt Gen MC Badhani, VSM, Director General Border Roads.
Shri. Brijeshwar Singh, IAS, Chairman, National Highway Authority of India.
Chief Secretary: Govt. of Assam, Govt. of Meghalaya, Govt. of Tripura, Govt. of Manipur, Govt. of Mizoram.
Shri. Kabindra Purkaistha, Member of Parliament, Silchar, Assam.

Dear Friends

I, Saurabh Koiri, s/o Lt. Subhash Koiri, resident of Indrani Sarani Das Colony, Rangirkhari, Dist. Cachar, Assam, organised Press Meet on 23rd day of May, 2010 in Silchar, Cachar, Assam

I am representing a common man who has lost his father and his elder brother in an accident on National Highway No. 44, a National Highway which lacks basic essential ROAD SAETY NORMS particularly at Sonapur, Tongseng and Malidor.

On 06th January, 2010 evening, at Tongsong Village (near Sonapur) of Jayantia Hills in Meghalaya, a road accident took away the life of my father Late Shri Subhash Koiri along with my elder brother Late Gaurav Koiri and driver Late Ajim Uddin. My father was Block Development Officer at Binnakandi Dev. Block under Govt. of Assam and he needs to travel the terrain regularly as part of his job. On 6th Jan also he was returning from Guwahati to Silchar after completing his government duty. The vehicle plunged into the gorge, approx. 400 ft deep. There were no essential Road Safety equipments signs/signage available where the accident took place.

National Highway 44 (Shillog – Tripura), which connects Shillong with Tripura is quite common for the residents of BARAK VALLEY and 4 different States to connect Guwahti with Major Towns towns and District of ASSAM, TRIPURA, MANIPUR and MIZORAM. The 723 km stretch of NH-44 spans across the states of Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura and links some major district headquarters, towns and cities of Mizoram and Manipur. The available railway connectivity is not proper and broad-gauge railway project is in progress with snail speed. Therefore, NH-44 becomes the life line of all these states as the main and major mode of transportation. However, because of some vital reasons, mentioned below, the travel at NH-44 makes it dangerous, unsafe, life-threatening and tiring for the commuters. The major accident prone areas say, Tongseng, Sonapur and Malidor, were without basic “road safety norms”.

A strong desire that it does not happen to any other family and to stop further carnage on above mentioned regions, I have taken this initiative of “ROAD SAETY” on behalf of those who have lost their loved ones particularly one of the most neglected regions of National Highway of our country.

With Reference to the letter to Her Excellency Pratibha Devising Patil, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Kamal Nath, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India, Shri Rahul Gandhi ( For visiting accidental areas), concerned Chief Minister of concerned States (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram) Chairmen NHAI, Director Border Roads Organisations, Shri Kabindra Purkaistha, MP Silchar and other concerned agencies appealing for interference to install basic “ROAD SAFETY” measures on National highway no. 44 near Tongseng, Malidor and Sonapur region.

The ideology is to seek Support to make ROAD SAFETY CAMPIAGN Successful. I believe that community involvement can give strong support to the cause of road safety and motivate political will, highlighting the laxity and negligent attitude of the Government, National Highway Authority of India and other law enforcing agencies responsible for implementing basic “Road Safety” measures at least at major accident prone areas at Tonseng, Sonapur and Malidor region on National Highway No.-44 which is without “BASIC ROAD SAFETY NORMS” for years.

A strong desire that the same doesn't happen to any other family due to such a horrible road accident… absence of Road safety forced me to highlight loopholes of National Highway Management. The challenge of making NH-44 safer can be met only with the whole hearted support and commitment of the people of Barak Valley, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram.

Few Questions to Government and Concerned Authorities on the issue of “Road safety” on NH-44 at Sonapur, Tongseng, Malidor region

WHY Sonapur Region on NH-44 is neglected?

· In the absence of proper railway connectivity and slow progress of broad gauge railway project, NH-44 is the main and major mode of transportation for Barak valley (Assam) along with other 3 states Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur to communicate with the Dispur (State Capital of Assam) and different part of our country.

· Why Sonapur Region on NH-44 is neglected by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, National Highway Authority of India and other concerned agencies where accidents are quite common. Being so important National Highway and main mode of transportation of residents and commuters of 4 states viz. Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur and other major cities and head quarters.

· National Highway of Shimla, Masoorie, Nainital, viz. NH-22, NH-72, NH-94, where Road Safety Measures are undertaken and implemented properly. Why NH-44 is neglected, being same geographical conditions compared to other National Highways of India, NH-44 (near Sonapur) lacks basic Road Safety measures like Road Signs, Railing / Barriers, Emergency Facility, Line Marking. If any vehicle lost its control it falls thousand feet gorge straight away on NH-44 near Sonapur, Tonseng and Malidor.

· The transport Department is one of the largest revenue earning departments. dealing with various transport related matters like driving licenses, registration of motor vehicles, grant and renewal of permits and other regulatory and enforcement services, We the people from Barak valley, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram pays all of the above similarly like any other citizen of India then, why govt. has no little attention for the betterment of basic road condition of NH-44 which is the main mode of Transportation.

Why our Public representatives are silent on the issue of Road Safety on NH-44 (Near Sonapur)?

· There are 15 nos. of MLAs, 2 nos. Member of Parliament, 2 Cabinet Ministers (Govt. of Assam) and in Barak valley, and Govt. of Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur but no initiative being seen or felt for installing ROAD SAFETY equipments at NH-44 (near Sonapur – Tongseng – Malidor) where travel is dangerous, unsafe and life-threatening for the commuters.

· Don’t our public representatives feel the importance of “Road Safety” on NH 44 (Near Sonapur, Tongseng and Malidor)?

· Don’t our public representatives travel along with NH-44 to communicate with State Capital of Assam?

· We, the common man respect our representatives next to God, Why don’t they respect us in return.

Whom should we blame for all these sufferings………………… Ultimately, it is the common man who has to suffer because of inactive role of our elected Representatives.

Why there is no role of Voluntary Organizations?

· Why there is no participation of NGOs and other voluntary Organisations Grant-in-Aid for implementing, Campaigning as per the guidelines of National Highway Authority of India, for Road Safety and improving road conditions on NH-44 near Sonapur.

· If at all there is presence then why its not been visible.

Why there is Lack of Laws and their proper enforcements?

· There are no checks done by officials to ascertain that private owned public transport vehicles does not overload with passengers and goods beyond permissible safety limits.

· It is a general appeal of passengers that the drivers of super-deluxe buses drive vehicles in night under the influence of liquor;

· The safety and security of passengers are never given priority by the transport agencies as well as those responsible for enforcing traffic rules.

My aim towards this ROAD SAFETY CAMPEIGN is stop further carnage on near Sonapur Tongseng and Malidor

I am following foot prints of my father Late Subhash Koiri, Who has taught me to protest if something goes wrong around

Appeal to People of Barak Valley

We the people of Barak Valley can aimed at raising awareness amongst all levels of society as to the risks and consequences associated with a lack of “Road Safety”

I believe that community involvement can give strong support to the cause of road safety on NH-44 and motivate political will, thus enable road safety actions to be prioritised and proper steps to be undertaken at Sonapur, Tongseng and Malidor on NH-44.

The challenge of making roads safer can be met only with the whole hearted support and commitment of the entire community. I strongly feel that partnering with people of barak valley that provides impetus to my initiative and campaign for Road Safety to stop further carnage on NH-44 Near Sonapur region.

Thank you for your time and attention

Date: 09-07-2010
Silchar, Assam

With Love to People of Barak Valley

Saurabh Koiri
S/o Lt. Subhash Koiri
House No. 11, Indrani Sarani, Das Colony, Rangirkhari, Silchar,
Cachar, Assam, Pin – 788005, Mobile : (+91) 9435723164,Email : saurabh.koiri@gmail.com