Bhubaneswar, Jul 9: In a bid to reduce road accidents and fatalities, the Odisha government has announced plans to develop accident-free and fatality-free corridors across the state.

The initiative is based on recommendations from the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety and aims to provide permanent solutions to accident-prone areas, commonly known as black spots.

A high-level preparatory meeting chaired by Law, Works and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan was held, attended by senior officials from the Works Department, Commerce and Transport Department, and the Transport Commissioner.

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The meeting discussed strategies to strengthen road safety measures and prepare for an upcoming two-day workshop involving national and international experts.

The workshop will focus on technology sharing and modern road safety practices, with recommendations to be implemented in phases across Odisha.

Officials highlighted that road accidents in the state are often caused by overspeeding, non-use of helmets, violation of traffic rules, and drunk driving.

To address these issues, the government plans to adopt measures such as black spot correction, speed management, access control, construction of service roads, and improved pedestrian pathways in line with Indian Road Congress guidelines.

District-level action plans will also be prepared to ensure coordinated efforts across departments.

The meeting emphasized the importance of modern engineering solutions, including advanced road designs, roadside amenities, designated parking spaces for heavy vehicles, and ambulance facilities near accident-prone zones.

Minister Harichandan stressed the need for strict enforcement of traffic laws, particularly against vehicles violating fitness, registration, permit, and insurance norms.

The Transport Department has already intensified enforcement drives, issuing 1,64,882 challans and seizing 428 vehicles between April 1 and June 30 this year.

Authorities noted that many violators neither pay fines nor renew fitness and insurance, posing risks to road safety. To counter this, all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) have been directed to adopt a stricter approach. The government’s ultimate goal is to significantly reduce accidents and fatalities, ensuring safer travel for citizens across Odisha.

With coordinated efforts, Odisha aims to set a benchmark in road safety by transforming its highways into accident-free corridors.