Chhatrapur: At least 331 people lost their lives and 386 were injured in road accidents this year in Ganjam district till October, reports said.
Reports said the district had 604 accidents this year and around Rs 86.98 lakh was collected as fines for violating the Motor Vehicles Act. Hundreds of driving licences were also cancelled.
The report was submitted to Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange at a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee Tuesday.
At the meeting presided over by the Collector, officials identified major accident zones and planned steps to check accidents.
The NH near Ujaleswari Temple, Palala Maharaja College Square, Golanthara Square, Haldiapadar Square, Bhanjanagar Jilundi and Sorada Toll Gate Karadabadi were identified as prime accident zones with the highest number of accidents.
Half the accidents were caused by stray cattle on highways. Officials were directed to identify people leaving their cattle on roads and highways and to take action against them.
The Collector also directed the police, transport department officials and hospital staffers to treat accident victims properly and warned of action in case of misbehaviour.
The officials also decided to demolish encroachments near highways. Steps would be taken to improve parking facilities for heavy vehicles.
The Collector also ordered to check the fitness certificates of vehicles and prevent overloading of buses.
The officials also decided to tie reflective radium bands around the necks and horns of stray cattle to alert motorists at night.
“The move is intended to check road accidents involving stray cattle. We will tag all stray cattle,” the Collector said.
“We know a lot of accidents take place on roads. Many cattle sleep on the road, and motorists end up hitting them,” said Ganjam SP Brijesh Kumar Rai. He added that saving cows has a spiritual angle and preventing accidents is our duty.
“We will offer fruits and bread to cattle, and then tie the radium straps around their necks,” another official said. The drive is expected to go on for around 15-20 days.
But the challenge is the sheer number of cattle. “At present, we are mainly focusing on main roads and highways as vehicles go fast there,” an official said, adding that the administration was in touch with NGOs to cover more cattle.
Around 43,000 people have died in the state in road mishaps, minister Sahu had told the Assembly recently. On an average 12 people are killed every day on state roads.
PNN
