Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards improving road safety and reducing accidents and fatalities caused by illegal parking on highways, the Odisha government signed a MoU with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) for the efficient management and maintenance of modern truck terminals being developed along major highways.
The initiative also aims to provide better facilities and amenities for heavy vehicle drivers, while ensuring safer and more organised parking along highway stretches. The MoU was signed between the Commerce & Transport Department and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), a leading public sector enterprise of the Government of India, in the presence of Department Principal Secretary NBS Rajput, Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, IOCL State Head Kamal Sheel and DGM Sachindra Guni.
Additional Transport Commissioner (Road Safety) Dipti Ranjan Patra signed the MoU on behalf of the Transport Department, while Chiranjib Poddar, State Retail Head, signed on behalf of IOCL. It may be noted that more than 300 people lose their lives every year in Odisha in road crashes involving vehicles parked unsafely on roads. Long-haul truck drivers travel ling from different States often park their vehicles illegally along highways, where they cook, rest and carry out other activities in unsafe conditions, increasing the risk of accidents.
To address this issue, the Department has set a target of developing 30 truck terminals near National Highways across different districts of the state in the first phase. Construction of 15 of these terminals has already been completed. The terminals are equipped with adequate parking facilities, rest areas for drivers, canteens, drinking water facilities, vehicle repair garages, EV charging stations and other essential amenities.
As per the MoU, IOCL will be responsible for the management, operational efficiency and day-to-day maintenance of these truck terminals. Drivers parking their vehicles in hazardous locations along the roads will be encouraged to use these safe and dedicated truck terminals.
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