Minister inaugurates free eye check-up centres for drivers

In a groundbreaking initiative to prevent road accidents, for the first time in the state, the Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy launched a free eye check-up and spectacles distribution programme at a dhaba (roadside restaurant) on the national highway in Nalgonda district on Sunday. The programme aims to safeguard drivers from potential accidents by ensuring they have proper vision.
Minister Venkat Reddy inaugurated the free eye test centre set up for drivers as part of the Road Safety Month, at a Dhabha at Vattimarti area under Chityal mandal in Nalgonda. The programme was implemented under the supervision of district administration, police, and transport departments.
India has the highest number of road accidents in the world, and the Telugu states also report a significant share of these accidents. The Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway has been witnessing an average of 70,000 to 80,000 vehicles daily. In response, the Telangana government has taken the novel step of organising eye exams for drivers directly at the dhabas along the highway, ensuring that anyone with impaired vision is immediately provided with corrective glasses.
Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy urged drivers to take advantage of the initiative, stressing that neglecting eye health, especially for long-distance drivers, increases the risk of accidents. He mentioned that the responsibility for reducing road accidents lies with the drivers themselves. Moreover, he shared plans to convert the Vijayawada-Hyderabad national highway into a six-lane road, with tenders expected to be completed by May of this year.
District Collector Ila Tripathi, emphasised that long-distance drivers often do not have access to regular eye check-ups due to time constraints or financial limitations.
Nalgonda district Superintendent of Police Sharat Chandra Pawar highlighted that the district has managed to reduce accident hotspots significantly.
MLA Vemula Veeresham also spoke. The Deputy Commissioner of the District Transport Department, Vani, also addressed the gathering.