Bhubaneswar, Jan. 16: The state transport department today launched a toll-free number to redress citizens' grievances, including delay in getting driving licence and arbitrary fare demanded by buses.

The toll-free number - 18003451073 - will work between 10am and 6pm on every working day. The number was launched at the end of the road safety week today.

A transport official said a dedicated call centre had been set up at the office of the transport commissioner-cum-chairman of the State Transport Authority in Cuttack.

The authority's transport commissioner-cum-chairman Chandra Sekhar Kumar said the grievances would be forwarded to regional transport offices concerned for further action. "Residents can seek information on delay in various transport related services. The grievances would be redressed in seven days," said Kumar.

The transport department has also started a new initiative by identifying the black spots (accident-prone areas). A transport official said the black spots were being identified based on a survey conducted by the National Highways Authority of India and the state roads and buildings department. The survey, so far, has identified 31 black spots across the state.

The official said there were four black spots in Khurda district - Khandagiri Square, Khurda Bypass, Pitapalli Square and Tapang Square.

"After the accident-prone areas were identified, the authorities concerned would be asked to take measures such as construction of flyovers, deployment of traffic personnel and construction of speed breakers," he said.

Transport minister Ramesh Majhi said the state government had initiated a number of steps to curb road mishaps.

"We have deployed 15 interceptors to check over-speeding and drink driving. Besides, we have also decided to relocate liquor shops located along the highways. Though national highways account for 2 per cent of the entire road network in the state, 42 per cent of accident deaths take place on the national highways. So, we will set up two heavy vehicle driving training institutes in the state," said the transport minister.

Statistics by the State Transport Authority revealed that 3,931 people were killed in 2014 in 9,680 accidents across the state.

Data available till November 2015, shows 3,867 accident deaths in 10,500 road accidents last year.

The transport department has also decided to conduct frequent drives at the colleges to issue learners' driving licences to the students.

"The concerned regional transport officers have been asked to provide licences by testing the driving skills of the students. So far, we have issued more than 10,000 learners' licences to college students," said an official.