Bhubaneswar: The rising population coupled with a lack of awareness has led to a concerning increase in road accidents across the region. Factors such as speeding, riding without helmets, violating traffic rules, and driving under the influence of alcohol have been identified as major contributors to these mishaps, causing significant loss of lives and property.
To address this critical issue and ensure safer travel, a two-day workshop on road safety is scheduled to be held in the coming days. In preparation for this event, a high-level preliminary meeting was conducted under the chairmanship of the Minister for Law, Works, and Excise, Shri Prithviraj Harichandan.
The preparatory session was attended by several senior officials, including the Principal Secretary, Department of Works, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh; Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Shri NBS Rajput; and Transport Commissioner Shri Amitabh Thakur.
During the meeting, officials analyzed the current accident scenario across various districts, evaluated the root causes of these incidents, and discussed effective measures to reduce them.
Minister Shri Harichandan emphasized the immediate need to identify accident-prone zones, also known as black spots, and implement proper management strategies. He stressed the importance of utilizing modern technology to construct better, accident-free roads and developing pedestrian pathways in accordance with the Indian Roads Congress guidelines.
Furthermore, the Minister called for district-specific action plans to be prepared through coordinated efforts among various government departments to minimize road casualties.
The discussion also highlighted the necessity of setting up dedicated parking areas for heavy vehicles along the highways and developing way-side amenities for drivers to rest. To ensure prompt medical assistance during emergencies, the meeting prioritized the strategic deployment of ambulances near identified accident-prone areas.
High-ranking officers from the National Highways Authority of India and other related transport wings were also present to contribute to the strategic framework for enhanced road security.