‘Time card’ system introduced on NH-39 stretch in Karbi Anglong

DIMAPUR — Given the significant surge in road accidents along NH-39 between Bokajan and Barpathar in Karbi Anglong district, the district road safety committee has decided to implement a ‘Time card’ system from Sarihajan to Silonijan.

The ‘Time card’ system has been introduced in an attempt to cut down the rate of road accidents as at least 33 accidents were reported in 2023 along the stretch.

This was announced by Superintendent of Police (SP), Karbi Anglong, Sanjib Kumar Saikia, during a press briefing in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Bokajan, Debahuti Bora, at Sarihajan on Friday.

The SP mentioned that upon analysing the 2023 road accident data for Karbi Anglong district, the number of fatalities stood at 79, while 33 accidents occurred between Bokajan and Barpathar, mostly related to overspeeding.

The Karbi-Anglong SP also reminded that the designated speed limit for this road section is 60 km/hr, however, authorities have noted instances where vehicles surpass this, reaching speeds as high as 120 km/hr.

Therefore, to contain the rate of accidents and ensure public safety, the district road safety committee has decided to implement a time card system from Sarihajan to Silonijan and up to Garampani, he said

Saikia informed that initially, the system will be implemented on a trial basis and as per the data analyses indication of peak times for accidents, the timing has been fixed from 3 pm to 9 pm and from 5 am to 9 am, daily.

He added that the committee will evaluate the outcome during this trial period before potentially extending the scheme to the district’s border.

The police officer said that enforcement teams will be physically present during peak hours to enforce speed limits and issue time cards to vehicles. He also informed that a significant number of accidents along the road stretch involve vehicles coming from Nagaland side.

On working on the system, he said that vehicle drivers, upon entering Sarihajan point, will receive manual time cards in which entry timing and vehicle details will be noted.  The vehicle drivers must ensure that from Sarihajan point, the vehicles do not reach Silonijan point before 34 minutes or Garampani before 40 minutes.

Non-compliance with the speed limit will result in fines under U/S 183 of the MV Act, he added.

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