Jamshedpur: The steel city has a fatal mishap rate of around 1 per week, five times above the national average of 0.2, Ashish Mathur, MD of Jusco, a Tata Steel subsidiary that looks after civic needs of company areas of Jamshedpur, said on Saturday, promising to make roads safer in 2018.
Jamshedpur saw as many as 56 fatal road accidents in 2016 and 51 in 2017.
Jusco has hired KPMG Cosultants to suggest steps to reduce road mishap risks at 11 identified black spots (risky zones) in the city, Mathur said.
The black spots are roundabouts at RD Tata (Golmuri), NML (Agrico), Nildih (Telco), Marine Drive, Kadma-Sonari Link Road, St Mary's English School (Kharkai Link Road, Bistupur), Baridih, Tubes Division (Burmamines) and Jugsalai, Dimna Road in Mango and Bhuiyandih Road.
"KPMP Consultants have carried out their survey of all the 11 identified black spots in the city and would submit a report on steps to reduce mishap threats. Based on their report, we will discuss modifications near the risky roundabouts and roads with our experts," Mathur said.
Jusco has widened seven roads and started work on seven more to reduce snarls and mishap threats on key arteries.
"We will complete road widening projects in the next few months," Mathur said, adding Jusco's first priority was to involve all stakeholders and host a safety awareness drive as part of road safety week between January 8 and 15.
"We will involve schools, school pool van operators, traders, corporate sector executives, administration, police and transporters. The behaviour of commuters needs to be more responsible," he said.
The road safety campaign will be flagged off by Jamshedpur city SP Prabhat Kumar at Gopal Maidan on January 8 wherein 100 vans will roll out to spread road safety messages that will be augmented by hoardings, radio campaigns, nukkad nataks (street plays). Traffic norms at major roads will be enforced. The safety week will culminate with a citizens' march on January 15 near Dorabjee Tata Park.
This apart, Jusco will use Lorawan (lower power wide area network) technology to display real-time data of sewage near manholes to alert against spilling. "We aim to put 4,000 such sensors across the city," Mathur said. Jusco began using sensor-based Lorawan tech last year on pilot basis.
