Odisha launches road signage audit to make roads fully signage compliant

Cuttack: The State Transport Department has launched a unique initiative of road signage audit with an aim to make all roads in the State road signage compliant.

The Department is making efforts to identify faulty road signage and markings and rectify the faulty ones. As part of the initiative, a small sample audit of road signage and marking on SH-10 (Biju Expressway) from Deokaranpur to Keseibahal, 50 km stretch in Sundargarh district.

The study conducted by the Transport Department revealed that there is a need for more signs to warn, inform, guide, control or delineate road users. At some places the pavement markings are not conspicuous and continuous. The study further suggested that lack of signage may cause confusion at intersections and inadequate signage can cause accident.

The Indian Road Congress code has set several parameters for three types of road signs—regulatory, warning and informative. The parameters include characteristics, installation, location and visibility for correct application.

As per the findings and recommendations of the sample audit, rectifications are being carried out on the stretch of the highway. As part of the drive, concerned officials will put up proper road signages in place of the faulty ones and repair the damaged ones. They will also install new road signages wherever required.

Based on the findings of the pilot project, the Transport Department has decided to scale up the initiative at state-level. It has been decided to conduct audit of road markings and signage for 3,000 kms of roads across the state.