Odisha Gears Up for National Road Safety Month–2026; Focus on High-Accident Districts

Bhubaneswar: Reaffirming its commitment to safer roads and responsible mobility, the Odisha government has initiated preparations for the observance of National Road Safety Month–2026, scheduled from January 1 to 31, 2026, as notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.

A preliminary preparatory meeting was held on Tuesday at Kharavel Bhawan, chaired by Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department, Usha Padhee. The meeting was attended by the Transport Commissioner and senior officials of the department.

Discussions centred on translating national road safety guidelines into effective and coordinated actions at both State and district levels. The month-long observance aims to intensify public awareness, strengthen enforcement, improve road engineering, and enhance emergency response systems to promote a people-centric road safety culture across Odisha.

Adopting a data-driven and outcome-oriented approach, the State has decided to focus special attention on seven high-accident districts through targeted interventions and district-specific strategies. Officials reviewed lessons from previous road safety initiatives and deliberated on new measures to enhance impact and ensure sustainability.

Road safety remains a key pillar of Odisha’s vision of building a Developed Odisha, with sustained efforts underway to reduce road accidents and fatalities. These include improvements in infrastructure, behaviour change campaigns, stricter enforcement mechanisms, and swift post-crash care. Accident-prone locations will be addressed in coordination with road construction and implementing agencies to rectify engineering gaps and upgrade safety standards.

The meeting underscored the importance of awareness, enforcement, and rapid post-crash response, along with a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. Enhanced coordination among departments, police, and district administrations was emphasised to achieve meaningful and lasting reductions in road accidents.

It was also decided that a high-level government meeting will be convened shortly to finalise detailed action plans and comprehensive strategies for National Road Safety Month–2026, reinforcing the State’s resolve to make roads safer and journeys more secure for all citizens.