Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhiram G. Sankar has directed officials of all departments to create awareness among construction labourers, school children and garment workers in particular, on illegal transportation of them in goods vehicles.

Presiding over the District-Level Road Safety meeting at his office in city on Saturday, he said that the District Labour Department was already conducting awareness  programmes on the ill-effects of travelling in goods vehicles to various garments and industrial establishments’ workers.

Likewise, other departments too must join hands with the District Administration to crackdown on illegal transport of workers in goods vehicles. Officials should educate employees and garment workers on road safety, the DC said and directed the officials concerned to operate more buses for their benefit.

The Police official must instruct the managements of factories not to allow employees to commute in goods vehicles, which is a violation as per the Indian Motor Vehicle Act, he said and added that the High Court had recently underlined the need to prevent this practice.

He directed the Police Department to file criminal cases against owners of goods vehicles, and instructed the RTO to identify places where there is lack of safe public transport and come up with mechanisms to address this shortfall.

Officials must spread road safety awareness and ill effects of travelling in goods vehicles by displaying bill boards and other publicity materials in all public places, the DC said.

DC Abhiram G. Sankar further said that he had received complaints of accidents from many places.   Police officials should study the accident spots and must take preventive measures on priority. They should check the functioning of CCTV cameras installed at traffic signals besides intensify the crackdown on helmetless riders.

Speaking on the  occasion, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Member Secretary B.P. Devamane said that more number of villagers were found travelling in goods vehicles due to lack of poor transportation facilities. District Administration must focus on conducting legal awareness on such travellers, he added.  He wanted the Education Department officials to issue road safety guidelines to all drivers ferrying school children in their vehicles. Additional Superintendent of Police P. Sneha, Regional Transport Officer Prabhuswamy and others were present