Jaipur: Public Works Department (PWD) will declare a 7-km stretch from Jaipur Police commissionerate headquarters to OTS crossing on JLN Marg as a “model corridor” Wednesday. Officials said PWD and the higher education department have initiated a state-level programme—SUSMA (Surakhshit Sadak Marg Abhiyan)—from Aug 9. Under this initiative, the department has demarcated 19 stretches of about 7 km each in 19 districts of the state, including one in Jaipur.PWD officials outlined the key features of the model corridor, which will include proper traffic signages, road markings, speed breakers compliant with the Indian Road Congress standards and well-maintained asphalt surfaces free of potholes. Additionally, aesthetic improvements will focus on the uniformity of road surfaces and adjacent pavements, as well as effective control over hoardings and advertisements. The initiative also emphasises cleanliness, targeting encroachments and ensuring proper drainage and sewerage facilities, alongside making the area more pedestrian-friendly with adequate footpaths and emergency service access. To kick off the project, a rally led by deputy CM Diya Kumari will take place Wednesday morning, with her riding in an open-hood jeep along the planned route. Following this rally, PWD will organise an event at Maharani College.The model corridor in Jaipur would encompass Chomu House Circle (Sardar Patel Marg), Statue Circle (Prithviraj Marg), Narayan Singh Circle (Tonk Road), and Trimurti Circle (JLN Marg via Narayan Singh Marg).“Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is the caretaker of this stretch. While JDA engineers would work on this project, we will assist them by conducting inspections and surveys based on nine parameters. Both PWD and JDA would try to convert this stretch into a model corridor,” said Shilpa Shrimal, PWD’s executive engineer for quality control.SUSMA programme is notable for being conducted by 60 women engineers and officials of PWD.Jaswant Lal Khatri, chief engineer (quality control) of PWD, said that besides developing model corridors, there are two other components of this programme targeting urban areas of the state. He said 2,44,336 students were given training on road safety in govt schools and colleges by PWD master trainers (women engineers). On completion of this training, the department distributed prescribed standard helmets to these students for only Rs 300.“The subsidy amounts for these helmets were collected as subscriptions, paid by PWD officials from their own pockets. The objective of the programme is to make students aware of road safety rules, promote helmet use, and develop safe road infrastructure,” Khatri said.
