Kerala: Rs 33 crore unspent in road safety fund
The highest amount of Rs 50 crore was allotted in 2014-2015.
Kochi: An RTI reply has revealed that the Road Safety Fund has left Rs 33 crore from the funds it got for the Centre unspent in the last two years. The union surface transport ministry allocates funds to the state governments for the development of state roads as per the provisions of the CRF Act, 2000. It was later decided that 10 per cent of such funds will be allocated to the state governments for road safety works. The centre on an average allotted Rs 15 crore to the fund in the last 7 years since 2008-2009. The highest amount of Rs 50 crore was allotted in 2014-2015.
According to an RTI reply from the Kerala State Road Safety Authority, a sum of Rs 32 crore is deposited in the Thiruvananthapuram district treasury and Rs 40 lakh at the SBT Vazhutha-kkad branch. The RTI reply was given to Raju Vazhakala, a Kochi-based RTI activist. The fund is generally utilised for creating awareness among the general public by organising events on road safety and for training drivers with the help of National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC).