Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to implement “engineering solutions” to enhance safety at locations prone to accidents, a senior official announced on Sunday. During the launch of the ‘zero-fatality fortnight’, which focuses on raising awareness about road safety, Transport Department’s Principal Secretary Usha Padhee noted that road accidents have become a significant concern for the State, and the government is making every effort to address them. She emphasized that reducing road accidents requires collective participation and cannot be achieved through government measures alone. “We aim to create a society free from road accidents. The untimely loss of lives can be averted if all road users follow road safety regulations,” she stated.
Official data revealed that 16,287 individuals lost their lives in road accidents in the State from 2021 to 2023. Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur and Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh also attended the event. Over the next two weeks, Regional Transport Officers will conduct various awareness programs throughout the State, officials reported. The program included tributes to those who died in accidents and the launch of a specially-decorated vehicle to promote public awareness.