Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday rolled out 18 Highway Patrolling units in 18 stretches of various State and National Highways on virtual platform.
Launching the units, Naveen said these units will play a crucial role in saving the lives of accident victims on highways. Stating that the Government is committed to reduce fatalities on highways and is taking up several steps to contain these unfortunate incidents and this is a step towards achieving that.
Announcing introduction of highway patrolling, he said time taken in shifting a patient from accident spot to nearest hospital play a crucial role and to aid this patrolling units will be highly useful.
The Government plans to create 36 patrolling units in accident-prone stretches and the 18 units taken up in first phase will act as guides for future initiatives, Naveen said. The Chief Minister also asked the officials to resume more sensitisation initiatives for vehicle drivers on road safety mechanisms and related laws.
Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra, who was present at Manguli Chhak near Cuttack, said Odisha is a model state in disaster management and saving lives. Highway patrolling is another endeavour of the government in this direction, he added.
Among others, DGP Abhay, Secretary to CM (5-T) VK Pandian and MLAs were also present at different locations.
These units will function on the following stretches in Phase-I:
Ganjam
• Khurdha district border to Rambha
• Rambha to Chhatrapur
• Chhatrapur to Girisola
Berhampur
• Gopalpur Chowk to Golanthara border
Khurda
• Pittapali to Tapang check gate
• Tapang check gate to Tangi PS
• Tangri PS to Ganjam district border
Angul
• Angul Town to Jarapada
Bargarh
• Bargarh district border to Sohela
Rourkela
• Panposh Chhak to Kansbahal
Balasore
• Rupsa PS to Sergarh Toll Gate
Bhadrak
• Balasore district border to Nalanga
• Nalanga to Jajpur district border
Puri
• Satyabadi to Puri Town
Jajpur
• Bhadrak district border to Jarka
• Kuakhia to Chhatia
Cuttack
• Chhatia to Manguli
• Adhala to Baladiabandh