‘Zero Fatality Week’ from Sept to March across state

Bhubaneswar: Odisha will observe the first week of every month from September to March as ‘Zero Fatality Week’ as part of an intensified campaign to reduce road accidents and fatalities across the state. A high-level preparatory-cum-review meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan here Thursday under the chairmanship of Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh decided to implement the campaign across the state. The meeting reviewed a series of measures to be undertaken at the field level to strengthen road safety and prevent fatal accidents.

Officials said the campaign would be implemented through coordinated efforts involving the Commerce and Transport department, Police, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Works department, Health department and other concerned agencies. Chairing the meeting, Singh directed officials to simultaneously intensify enforcement of traffic laws, take strict action against violators, conduct extensive checking drives, launch public awareness campaigns and undertake necessary improvements in road infrastructure.

Strategic enforcement drives will be conducted jointly by the Police and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) against major traffic violations, including riding without helmets, failure to wear seat belts, overspeeding, drunk driving, use of mobile phones while driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and violation of traffic signals. Immediate engineering interventions will also be undertaken at identified accident-prone black spots in coordination with the NHAI, Works Department and Rural Development Department. Officials have been directed to expedite safety measures, including repair of potholes, installation of blinkers and warning signboards and erection of crash barriers at vulnerable locations. District Collectors have been asked to intensify public awareness campaigns and strengthen emergency healthcare services.

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Self-Help Groups, students, volunteers and drivers will be involved at the panchayat and urban levels to promote road safety awareness and encourage active public participation. Ambulance services will also be kept on standby near vulnerable roads and accident-prone locations to ensure prompt medical assistance to accident victims during the crucial “golden hour” following an accident. The meeting further discussed reviewing the implementation of the PM Rahat Yojana and giving the scheme wider publicity.

Citizens who help save the lives of accident victims will be encouraged through financial rewards and recognition under the ‘Ra hahbir’ and ‘Good Samaritan’ initiatives. Special attention will be given to districts with a high incidence of road accidents, particularly those witnessing heavy mineral transportation, industrial activities and intense traffic movement on national highways. The respective District Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) will personally supervise the implementation of road safety measures in these areas.