Odisha Govt Reviews Road Safety, Sets 2030 Target
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is stepping up efforts to improve road safety and reduce fatalities, with a high-level review meeting chaired by Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department, Usha Padhee. The meeting assessed ongoing initiatives and outlined strategic interventions to enhance the state’s transportation network.
The review evaluated the implementation of previous decisions and examined the latest data on road accidents. While significant progress was noted, urgent concerns were raised over black spot rectification, full-scale implementation of the Intelligent Enforcement Management System (IEMS), and compliance with Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS) guidelines. Rising road accidents in specific districts, particularly in the mining belt, were flagged as a major issue, requiring immediate enforcement strategies and stricter monitoring.
IIT Madras, the state’s technical partner, presented innovative, data-driven approaches, including scientific crash investigations, road safety awareness campaigns, and capacity-building programs for enforcement agencies. The meeting also reviewed Odisha’s four-pronged approach—engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency care—highlighting the positive impact of highway patrolling, road safety awareness drives, and trauma care improvements. However, pending e-challan disposals, inadequate enforcement manpower, and gaps in road engineering safety features were identified as key challenges requiring immediate action.
Several priority initiatives were discussed, including the accelerated rollout of IEMS across more highways, deployment of additional highway patrolling vehicles, and the establishment of new Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) centers. Strengthening district-level road safety action plans, setting up truck terminals at key locations, enhancing post-accident response mechanisms, and involving Junior Rakshaks in road safety awareness campaigns were also emphasized.
A significant development under consideration is the amendment of the Odisha Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993, in line with changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Act. The proposed amendments will introduce stricter penalties, including the cancellation of driving licenses for habitual offenders. Additionally, the state government is working on integrating the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) with the electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) system to streamline data exchange and improve accident analysis.
Financial assistance will be provided to the police for digitizing road safety data and offering support to accident victims. Similar financial aid was previously extended to the Health & Family Welfare Department. Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) was also discussed as a critical road safety measure. The Chief Minister had earlier announced financial support for transport operators to install ADAS devices in their vehicles during the state-level observance of National Road Safety Month 2025. The State Transport Authority has been tasked with working out the implementation details.
Reaffirming Odisha’s commitment to reducing road accidents and fatalities, Usha Padhee emphasized the need for data-driven decision-making, leveraging technology, and strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships. She urged all stakeholders to coordinate closely and adopt a time-bound approach to achieve the state’s goal of a 50% reduction in road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, in alignment with national and global road safety targets.
The meeting, held in the 5th-floor conference hall of Kharabela Bhawan, was attended by key officials, including CMD OSRTC Diptesh Kumar Pattanayak, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Excise Poonam T Guha, Secretary STA Chinmay Biswal, representatives from IIT Madras, and officials from the Commerce & Transport Department, Health & Family Welfare Department, and School & Mass Education Department.
