Highway safety task force to be formed in Buxar

Buxar: District magistrate Sahila chaired a meeting of the District Highway Safety Committee here on Friday and issued several directives to strengthen road safety and traffic management on national highways.

A key decision taken during the meeting was the formation of a “District Highway Road Safety Task Force” at the district level. The task force will conduct regular inspections and patrolling to ensure compliance with highway safety norms.

The DM directed officials to identify illegal encroachments and unauthorised structures along national highways and initiate eviction drives against them. She also instructed that no licence be issued within the highway safety zone without an NOC from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The meeting stressed continuous monitoring of illegal parking and accident-prone “black spots” on highways. Officials were directed to conduct review meetings every fortnight and maintain detailed records of action taken.

The DM ordered removal of illegal structures within 60 days and asked officials to prepare an SOP for highway inspections and patrolling.

Officials were also directed to coordinate with the NHAI to ensure the availability of basic life support ambulances, recovery cranes and other emergency services on highways.

The DM said unauthorised parking of heavy and commercial vehicles within the “right of way” area of national highways will be strictly prohibited. Such vehicles will be allowed to park only at designated places and roadside amenity zones. Violators, including drivers and co-drivers, will face penalties and fines, she said.