Kamal Ghorui
Ranchi: The statewould soonget its first transport park at Dhurwa in the state capital to generate awareness among its residents about road safety rules. The park is in the final stages of completion. Once operational, it will be the 11th transport park in the country.Developed as a unique blend of an engaging learning space and a leisure destination for city residents, the interactive transport park has been designed to familiarise visitors, especially children, with traffic rules, road signs and safe commuting practices. The facility aims to go beyond conventional classroom-based learning by offering hands-on exposure to real-life traffic scenarios.The state transport department, along with the building construction department, has been constructing the park spread across three acres, at an estimated cost of Rs 14.95 crore. Joint transport commissioner Pradeep Kumar said, “The park is likely to be open in the next four months. The park is being built to address the growing concerns over road accidents and traffic violations by instilling a culture of road safety among commuters from an early age. The park will feature installations of various car models, both in good and after-accident conditions, to make visitors understand the impacts of rash driving.”“Model roads with traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, signages and markings would be set up to help visitors understand the dos and don’ts of road usage. Children will be able to learn road safety rules and walking habits through simulated environments, while adults will be sensitised about responsible driving, lane discipline and adherence to traffic regulations,” he added.“Department officials would soon visit transport parks in Nagpur and Pune, to learn their functioning and existing features, so that we can also develop the park in Ranchi in a standard way,” he further said.The recently released National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on accidental deaths and suicides in India revealed that Jharkhand was among the five states/ union territories which recorded more deaths than injuries in road accidents in 2023. Jharkhand reported 5,316 accidents, in which 4,130 persons died and 3,586 sustained injuries. A total of 2,215 persons died, and 1,794 were injured in 2,584 accidents due to speeding. Further, 1, 324 persons died, and 1,244 were injured in 1,978 accidents due to dangerous and careless driving. A total of 91 persons were killed, and 36 were injured in 79 accidents due to physical fatigue of drivers, while 47 died and 15 were injured in 52 cases caused by poor visibility, the report said.
