Bhubaneswar, May 25: A crucial meeting was held yesterday to discuss and review various road safety initiatives, chaired by Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department Usha Padhee .

Among others Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, and Road Safety Consultant Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian from IIT Madras were present. The meeting highlighted several key initiatives aimed at reducing road accidents and promoting safe driving practices in Odisha.

The rollout of the Zero Accident Day (ZAD) program is scheduled to commence soon marking a significant step towards achieving the state's road safety goals. Additionally, the *Chintan Sibira* event will be held at a venue provided by the Odisha Government, with full support offered, to bring together stakeholders and experts to discuss and deliberate on road safety strategies.

Capacity building and training programs were also emphasized, with Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian proposing brainstorming sessions for master trainers, investigation officers, healthcare professionals, teachers, and other key stakeholders. These programs aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of these stakeholders in promoting road safety and reducing accidents.

The development of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) strategies was also highlighted, with a focus on submitting materials to the department to facilitate their work. A simple, dynamic dashboard for Odisha was requested to enable daily data review and monitoring, which will help track progress, identify areas for improvement, and inform data-driven decision-making.

The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for implementing these initiatives and a commitment to working together to promote road safety in Odisha. With these efforts, Odisha is poised to take a giant leap towards reducing road accidents and creating a safer transportation system for all.

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