Page 96 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

Similarly, the fines imposed/collected over the Financial Year 2018-19 for
various violations/offences amounted to Rs. 1,552,600.

There had been an innovation in the functioning of DRTA in Muzaffargarh
lately when an Accidents Review Committee was constituted with effect from
January 1, 2019, comprising Secretary District Transport Authority, DSP
Traffic, Sub-Divisional Officer (Roads), District Emergency Officer (1122) as
well as Assistant Commissioner and Sub-Divisional Police Officer of the
concerned tehsil. The secretariat of the committee was established in the
office of the Secretary District Transport Authority. The committee started to
review each and every accident taking place within the jurisdiction of each
tehsil of Muzaffargarh on site, which resulted in any death or serious injuries,
and took or suggested the remedial action. Furthermore, the data so collected
was to be continuously analysed to identify the pattern, causes, trends and
vulnerable sites of road accidents so that long term preventive and corrective
actions could be taken or recommended accordingly.
Another achievement which the DRTA Muzaffargarh have had in 2019 was
the fact that it was instrumental in placing a ban on use of CNG/LPG as fuel
in the public service vehicles by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority
(OGRA). In view of the increasing number of deadly accidents taking place
due to illegal and faulty fitting of CNG/LPG cylinders in such vehicles, the
DRTA took up the matter with the Secretary, Transport Department,
Government of the Punjab on May 21, 2019. It was contended that the
cylinders were being fitted beneath the rear seats in complete violation of the
Motor Vehicles Rules 1969 and Compressed Natural Gas Safety Rules 1992,
endangering lives of the passengers. It was therefore proposed that a
complete ban should be placed in fixing of cylinders inside the passenger
compartment or beneath the rear seats in public service vehicles. The
Secretary Transport Department in turn referred the matter to the OGRA,
which vide its letter dated July 17, 2019 conveyed its concurrence to the
proposal and instructed all the provincial governments as well as the IG
National Highways & Motorway Police to start a crackdown against public
service vehicles having CNG/LPG cylinders fitted inside the passenger
compartments. A campaign was started accordingly. However, the
instructions so issued by the OGRA were later on suspended by the Lahore
High Court on a petition filed by the All Pakistan CNG Association. The
matter was still sub judice at the time of the finalization of the gazetteer.

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