Alcohol Advertisements Replace Traffic Signs on State Highways —*** Road Safety Ignored Despite Supreme Court Orders

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha /May 29

— Traffic signs play a vital role in reducing accidents and raising drivers’ awareness of road safety. However, due to government negligence, large alcohol hoardings and banners have been erected along state highways in blatant disregard of Supreme Court orders, becoming an attraction for children and youths and contributing to a rise in road accidents.

Jai Gopal Dhiman, president of the Labour Party, strongly condemned the Punjab government for replacing traffic signs with unlawful alcohol advertisements. He said it was contradictory for governments to urge people to follow the Constitution and the path shown by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar while simultaneously encouraging actions that violate the Constitution and Supreme Court directives.

Dhiman said that heaps of empty liquor bottles are often found near these promotional flexes along roadsides. While schools are educating children about traffic rules, traffic signs are missing on the roads where they are most needed. He emphasized that traffic signs are far more crucial than alcohol banners. Dhiman alleged that government policies such as home delivery of liquor have led to the neglect of traffic signage and are causing great harm to Punjab.

He questioned the value of awareness campaigns and paper promises on road safety when traffic signs are not installed on the roads. He asked what the point is of spending millions of rupees yearly on road safety if traffic signs are not put up even after four-day programs. According to Dhiman, a practical step to reduce accidents would be to ensure traffic signs are installed everywhere so people know the rules.

Dhiman added that while India talks about its abilities and colourful Punjab on the world stage, limiting road safety efforts to state highways and taking years to extend them to rural roads is unacceptable. He asked what reforms could be expected from the departments responsible for the faulty traffic signage.

He said it was disheartening that if regional transport officers themselves make such mistakes, who will fix the traffic system. Governments are responsible for the irreparable loss caused by road accidents, he said, and alleged that corruption has spread in the transport department, putting people’s lives at risk. Where traffic signs do exist, they are either stuck in poles improperly or lying broken.

Expressing surprise that leaders from opposing political camps remain silent, Dhiman particularly questioned why leaders associated with the government are not speaking up about their own administration’s policies. He said he has emailed a five‑member human rights commission urging intervention and appealed to the public to come forward to demand improvements in the traffic system