The Rajasthan High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking direction to the respondents to mandate Road Safety audits (Pre and Post) for all new and existing roads/ROB/Elevate Road/Ring Road from the designing stage itself.

The PIL filed by Muskaan: Foundation Of Road Safety (Trust) further prayed:-

-Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature thereof thereby directing the respondents to implement the Rajasthan Road Safety Policy 2017 with all earnestness and seriousness.

-Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature thereof thereby directing the respondents to set up a dedicated agency to collect and effectively maintain a road Accident and Safety Information Network and Database under the State Policy for the better implementation of National/State policies of Road Safety.

-Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature thereof thereby directing the respondents to set up a dedicated agency consisting of experts under a publicprivate model for Third Party Audits ensuring that operational road safety experience is applied during the design and construction process at the identified accidental black spots of the city.

-Issue a writ, order or direction for appointment of a high powered court monitored committee to examine the above issue and submit its report to this court periodically.

Taking cognizance of the issues raised in this PIL, notices were issued to the State as also Jaipur Development Authority.

Detailed reply termed as short reply was filed by Jaipur Development Authority. In the said reply, steps taken by Jaipur Development Authority including the action plan to control the menace of traffic have been outlined in detail.

The Division Bench of Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Praveer Bhatnagar noted that steps regarding installation of traffic signals, pamphlets and posters put over the sign boards, controlling entry of heavy vehicles in Jaipur City in specified hours, controlling movement of beggars at traffic/red light signals, installation of cameras, availability of PCR vans and other aspects have been taken.

Deputy Commissioner, Traffic Police, Jaipur (Respondent No. 4) has also filed affidavit regarding the mechanism with regard to control and free flow of traffic. The affidavits were filed in the year 2021. There is no material on record filed by the petitioner to justify further continuance of this PIL petition.

Leaving it open for the petitioner to bring to the notice of the Court any issue surviving consideration despite various steps taken by Jaipur Development Authority and the Commissioner, Traffic Police, Jaipur in the matter of management and control of traffic in the city, this PIL petition is disposed off by the High Court.

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