State government sets deadline for lane driving system on NH-16

The government of the state stated that they had set a two-month deadline for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to establish the necessary infrastructure on NH-16 between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack for the launch of the proposed lane driving system by the commissionerate police. It was mentioned that the lane driving proposal sent by the commissionerate police had been approved by the state government in 2020, but the project was yet to see the light of day. A few days ago, Usha Padhee, the secretary of commerce and transport, held a high-level meeting with officials of the NHAI, police, and transport department to discuss road safety-related issues, including the progress of the proposed lane driving system and the removal of encroachments from the national highway between Khurda and Chandikhol (90 km). According to the minutes of Padhee's meeting, it was stated that the NHAI should complete the installation of speed limit signage, gantries, and other gadgets by July 15 so that lane driving could be implemented. It was also mentioned that the commissionerate police should start the enforcement process after the system was implemented. The NHAI announced that they would soon mark lanes with thermoplastic paint and install signage boards, speed limit signage, gantries, and bollards on the proposed lane driving stretch, which was a six-lane highway with three lanes on each side. It was planned by the police to set a speed limit of 40 km/hr to 60 km/hr for the left lane (two-wheelers), 60 km/hr for the middle lane (heavy vehicles), and 60 km/hr to 80 km/hr for the right lane (cars) on the designated lane driving route. The transport department mentioned that the Supreme Court had issued several directions on November 30, 2017, related to road safety measures, to all states. One of the directives explicitly asked the states to strictly implement the motor vehicles (driving) regulations-2017, which mandated lane driving and provided the protocol for overtaking. Also Read NHAI extends bid deadline of Vadodara Mumbai expressway package VIIINHAI commences land demarcation for Hanogi-Manali pillar installation