JAMMU: Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review road safety measures and traffic management across the Union Territory, stressing the need for stronger enforcement and technology-driven monitoring to reduce accidents.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including the Additional Chief Secretaries of Finance and Public Works, Principal Secretary Home, Commissioner Secretary GAD, Secretary Transport, the Inspector General of Traffic Police and other officers from concerned departments. Deputy Commissioners from various districts, along with representatives of agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India, Border Roads Organisation and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, joined the meeting through video conference.
During the review, the Chief Secretary assessed the implementation of key road safety initiatives, including enforcement drives by the Motor Vehicles Department and Traffic Police, the functioning of the Integrated Road Accident Database portal and the rollout of the Prime Minister’s Road Accident Victims’ Hospitalization and Assured Treatment Scheme aimed at providing immediate assistance to road accident victims.
Dulloo directed departments to ensure timely uploading and verification of accident data on the iRAD portal to enable accurate analysis and quick corrective measures, particularly at accident-prone black spots. He also called for strict compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court of India regarding reporting and investigation of major road accidents.
Emphasising stronger coordination among departments such as Transport, Traffic Police, Health, Public Works and district administrations, the Chief Secretary asked officials to utilise the road safety fund effectively for the benefit of accident victims and ensure proper implementation of the PM Rahat scheme.
He further instructed District Road Safety Committees to hold regular meetings and prepare district-level action plans to improve traffic management and reduce accidents. Road construction agencies were also directed to conduct regular safety audits of existing and newly constructed roads and take immediate corrective measures at hazardous locations.
Secretary Transport Avny Lavasa informed the meeting that the Transport Department is conducting detailed analysis of accidents using the iRAD portal to identify accident hotspots and implement data-driven interventions. She said the system digitally records accident details, supports scientific investigation and helps authorities take preventive measures to reduce road fatalities.
Lavasa added that stakeholders have been directed to ensure timely data entry and verification on the portal, while training programmes are being conducted with the support of the National Informatics Centre to improve accident reporting. Integration of electronic Detailed Accident Reports with the judicial system is also being pursued to streamline accident reporting and compensation processes.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the PM Rahat Scheme, which provides cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh to road accident victims during the critical “golden hour”.
Officials informed that accident analysis through the portal has identified 16 major accident hotspots across J&K, including locations in districts such as Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi and Srinagar. Since June 2022, more than 3,800 accidents have been reported in Jammu district alone, while around 1,500 accidents were recorded in Srinagar, highlighting the need for focused interventions in high-risk areas.
Inspector General of Traffic Police M. Suleiman said strict action is being taken against traffic violators under the Motor Vehicles Act. He reported that 15,947 vehicles were seized in 2025, while 786 vehicles have already been seized in 2026 for serious violations.
To strengthen enforcement, the Traffic Police have deployed modern traffic management equipment such as breath analysers, body-worn cameras, speed detection devices, reflective safety gear, traffic cones and LED traffic batons. Additionally, 16 Highway Patrol Vehicles and 19 Interceptor Vehicles have been deployed to enhance patrolling and monitoring on highways.
Transport Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan informed the meeting that the PM Rahat Scheme aims to ensure immediate hospitalisation of accident victims without financial constraints through coordination among police, hospitals and the Transport Department.
He said all districts of the Union Territory have been onboarded under the scheme, with necessary financial and digital infrastructure, including RBI and PFMS accounts, established. Live entry of accident cases under the scheme began on March 9, 2026.
Mahajan also highlighted the utilisation of the Road Accident Victim Fund (RAVF) for accident-related interventions. He said ₹1,226.10 lakh has been received under the fund, of which ₹1,153.10 lakh has already been released to Regional Transport Offices and Assistant Regional Transport Offices, while ₹73 lakh remains available for further use.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to improving road safety, the Chief Secretary called for greater use of technology, strict enforcement of traffic laws and enhanced public awareness campaigns to significantly reduce road accidents across Jammu and Kashmir.
