Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 31 May 2025
In a major initiative aimed at promoting road safety and streamlining access to transport-related services, the Transport Department recently organized a day-long Road Safety Awareness Camp at the Community Hall of Shyam Nagar Panchayat, Swaraj Dweep. This marked the first such camp held on the island.
The event witnessed active participation from Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), local residents, the Police Department, Health Department, and various other stakeholders. The primary objective of the camp was to create awareness about road safety among road users while also offering on-the-spot services related to the Motor Vehicles Department.
The camp was jointly inaugurated by Mr. Sushant Padha, IAS, Assistant Commissioner (Swaraj Dweep) and Dr. Jatinder Sohal, Director (Transport).
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sohal emphasized the vision of the Hon’ble Lt. Governor and Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to ensure timely and effective service delivery to the public. He encouraged citizens to report any inconvenience faced in availing services of the Transport Department through the department’s WhatsApp number, control room, email, or telephone.
Mr. Sushant Padha highlighted several Government of India schemes designed to support accident victims and Good Samaritans. He informed the public that accident victims are eligible for cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh at any government-designated hospital.
The program also saw Mr. Apurva Chandra Roy, Member of the Zilla Parishad, and Mr. Alok Mridha, Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Shyam Nagar, express their appreciation to the Transport Department for bringing such a vital initiative to the island.
Mr. Feroz Alam, SDPO, Swaraj Dweep, appealed to the youth to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain learner’s and driving licenses. Earlier, the Assistant Director (Transport) welcomed attendees and spoke on the importance of adhering to traffic laws to reduce road accident fatalities in the Union Territory. A representative from PS Swaraj Dweep also addressed issues such as drunken driving and general traffic safety.
Key activities during the camp included issuing and renewing driving licenses, conducting vehicle fitness inspections, processing permit-related services, and offering medical checkups for learner’s license applicants. Approximately 74 individuals availed various on-the-spot services during the event.
The camp successfully combined public outreach with essential service delivery, reflecting the administration’s commitment to enhancing road safety and ease of access to transport services across the islands.