Cuttack: In an aim to regulate activities and access of non-motorised transport and pedestrians to public roads and national highways, the State Government is going to amend the Motor Vehicles Rules.
State Transport Authority (STA) has drafted the required amendments to the Odisha Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993. As per the drafted rules, Regional Transport Officer (RTO) will regulate activities related to vulnerable road users within its jurisdiction.
The Lead Agency on Road Safety (STA) will ensure that Works Department, other road owning departments and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI demarcates designated street space for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorized road users such as foot paths, cycling tracks, foot over bridges etc., on all roads and highways in the State.
The concerned agencies/ departments will provide pedestrian crossing facilities every two kilometres on stretches of highways under its jurisdiction, passing through inhabited areas.
The Government will identify busy roads where private vehicle movement will be prohibited and such designated roads will be transformed to “pedestrian only” zones.
Similarly, the PWD and NHAI will demarcate cycling paths and footpaths in all new and upgraded roads in the State especially in high-density residential areas and major places of employment as required under the Odisha State Road Safety Policy for safety of vulnerable road users.
The Police will have to ensure that a person who drives a motor vehicle shall maintain a safe distance, as prescribed by the Government while overtaking or passing non-motorized transport or pedestrians.
The road constructing agencies will also have to ensure walking infrastructure for pedestrians such as pedestrian crossways, subways and foot over bridges is incorporated at the design stage of roads.
Fines equivalent to one per cent of the total contract amount shall be mandatorily imposed upon contractors in cases where new roads do not have adequate walking infrastructure, which shall be deposited in the State Road Safety Fund, as per the document.
Rumble strips and zebra crossings will be constructed for safe passage of pedestrians at vulnerable stretches (near schools, hospitals, market areas), where there are large volumes of non-motorised transport movement, it said.
The Works Department and NHAI will demarcate slow zones/special speed zones for pedestrians on all roads, especially residential areas and areas designated as black spots, and restrict the entry of heavy vehicles (except emergency vehicles) in these zones. The Lead Agency on Road Safety in consultation with police, decide and notify speed limits for enforcement.
The RTOs can also implement safe speed limits for human and vehicular interaction not more than 40km/hr, vehicle to vehicle head on interaction 60 km/hr, nointeraction-80km/hr and signs for safe speed limits provided on all roads of their jurisdiction.
The Works Department, other road owning departments and NHAI will maintain the height of trees in roads so that it does not hinder the visibility of all road users. Tree canopies shall have a minimum clearance of 3 m from the surface of the footpath to ensure better visibility for pedestrians.
All manufacturers of non-motorized transport will have to provide adequate and appropriate reflectorized material and helmets at the time of sale, to provide protection to persons on non-motorized transport such as bicycles, etc.
The police officer not below the rank of ASI or officer of Odisha Motor Vehicles Department not below the rank of ASI (Traffic) can prosecute a person who drives a motor vehicle in contravention of these rules punishable under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
