Odisha Strengthens Road Safety Measures, Aims for 50% Reduction in Accidents by 2030

Bhubaneswar: In a determined effort to enhance road safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities, a high-level review meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department. The meeting focused on assessing the progress of existing road safety initiatives and formulating new strategies to improve the state’s transportation network.

During the review, officials evaluated the implementation of previous decisions, analyzed the latest accident data, and identified urgent areas of concern. Particular attention was given to black spot rectification, the full-scale implementation of the Intelligent Enforcement Management System (IEMS), and adherence to the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS) guidelines. The increasing number of road accidents in Odisha’s mining belt emerged as a major concern, prompting discussions on the need for enhanced enforcement strategies, stricter compliance monitoring, and robust emergency response mechanisms. IIT Madras, the state’s technical partner, presented innovative data-driven approaches, including scientific crash investigations, targeted awareness campaigns, and specialized training programs for enforcement agencies.

The state’s comprehensive four-pronged approach—engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency care—was reviewed extensively. While initiatives such as highway patrolling, road safety awareness campaigns, and trauma care enhancement have shown positive results, several challenges, including pending e-challan disposals, insufficient enforcement manpower, and gaps in road engineering safety, were highlighted as areas requiring immediate intervention.

The government outlined several priority initiatives to address these concerns. The accelerated rollout of IEMS across additional highway stretches, deployment of more highway patrolling vehicles, and establishment of new Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) centers were among the key measures discussed. Strengthening district-level road safety action plans, creating truck terminals at strategic locations, and enhancing post-accident response mechanisms were also emphasized. The engagement of Junior Rakshaks in road safety awareness campaigns was proposed to involve young people in preventive efforts and foster a culture of responsible driving.

A major development in the meeting was the ongoing amendment of the Odisha Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993, in alignment with recent changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Act. These amendments will introduce stricter measures, including the cancellation of driving licenses for habitual offenders and the adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in transport vehicles. During the state-level inauguration of National Road Safety Month-2025, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced financial support for transport operators to install ADAS devices, aiming to reduce road accidents through advanced safety technology. In today’s meeting, the State Transport Authority (STA), Odisha, was tasked with finalizing the modalities for this initiative.

Further, the government is working on integrating the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) with the electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) system, enabling seamless accident data exchange and analysis. Financial assistance will also be provided to the Odisha Police for road safety data digitization and to support accident victims.

Reaffirming Odisha’s commitment to achieving a 50% reduction in road accidents and fatalities by 2030, Usha Padhee stressed the importance of data-driven decision-making, technology adoption, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. She urged all concerned departments, enforcement agencies, and technical partners to work together in a time-bound manner to meet both national and global road safety targets.

The meeting was attended by Diptesh Kumar Pattanayak, CMD, OSRTC; Smt. Poonam T. Guha, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Excise; Chinmay Biswal, Secretary, STA; representatives from IIT Madras; and officials from the Commerce & Transport Department, Health & Family Welfare Department, and School & Mass Education Department. The discussions took place at the 5th floor conference hall of Kharabela Bhawan.