Nabarangpur, Nov 3 (UDN): : A meeting of the District Road Safety Committee was held today at the Ashok Mehta Conference Hall of the District Collector’s Office in Nabarangpur under the chairmanship of the Additional District Magistrate (ADM). The meeting focused on strengthening road safety measures, preventing road accidents and reducing fatalities across the district through coordinated efforts by various government departments and increased public awareness.
District Chief Public Health Officer (CDM&PHO) Prafulla Kumar Padhi, Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Swaha Hembram, members of the committee and officials from various departments attended the meeting. Detailed discussions were held on identifying road safety challenges and implementing effective measures to minimise accidents and improve traffic management.
At the outset, the committee reviewed the implementation of decisions taken during its previous meeting held on September 3, 2026. Special emphasis was placed on removing encroachments along roads, constructing speed breakers at necessary locations, installing proper road signboards, undertaking road markings, improving street lighting and repairing damaged traffic signals and information boards.
The committee also discussed the need to ensure adequate road safety arrangements near schools, hospitals, marketplaces and accident-prone intersections to protect pedestrians, students and other road users.
A comparative review of road accident statistics for the previous year and the current year was also conducted. Officials stressed strict enforcement of traffic regulations by the Transport Department and Police against violations such as overspeeding, drunk driving, non-use of helmets and seat belts, and wrong-side driving. Regular checking drives and appropriate legal action against traffic violators were emphasised.
The meeting also discussed the observance of ‘Zero Fatality Weeks’ from September 2026 to March 2027, with the objective of reducing road accident deaths through preventive measures, strict enforcement and public participation.
Identifying accident-prone locations and black spots and taking necessary corrective measures at these places were highlighted as important priorities. Officials were instructed to focus on proper road markings, installation of warning signboards and deployment of cranes and ambulances at strategically important locations.
To ensure immediate assistance to accident victims, the availability of 112 and 108 ambulance services along vulnerable and accident-prone stretches was emphasised. The Health and Family Welfare Department and the Fire and Emergency Services Department were asked to ensure prompt emergency response and adequate service availability.
The committee further discussed organising road safety awareness programmes in schools and colleges in coordination with the District Education Officer. These initiatives will aim to educate students about traffic regulations, responsible driving practices and the importance of road safety.
Special emphasis was also placed on creating awareness about the PM RAHAT and Raah-Veer schemes, which are aimed at facilitating immediate assistance to road accident victims. Officials discussed preparing awareness posters in the Odia language and displaying them at public places, bus stands and transport offices across the district to encourage people to help accident victims without hesitation.
The meeting also stressed conducting joint enforcement drives by the Transport Department and Police. During these inspections, school buses, passenger vehicles, dumpers, tankers and vehicles transporting hazardous materials will be checked to ensure compliance with road safety regulations.
Officials also discussed inspecting the operational status of Speed Limiting Devices (SLD) and Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD), including their activation, proper functioning and real-time data transmission capabilities.
Another significant issue discussed during the meeting was the formation of a District Highway Safety Task Force under the chairmanship of the District Collector. Representatives from the Police Department, Transport Department, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Roads and Buildings Department, Municipal Administration and Revenue Department will serve as members of the proposed task force.
The task force will work towards removing encroachments along national highways, preventing illegal parking, ensuring proper road markings and installation of signboards at necessary locations, and taking legal action against those violating traffic regulations.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on coordinated and responsible action by all concerned departments to strengthen road safety infrastructure, improve traffic management and significantly reduce road accidents and fatalities in Nabarangpur district.
Officials underlined that public awareness, strict enforcement of traffic rules, improved emergency response services and inter-departmental coordination would play a crucial role in making the district’s roads safer for everyone.
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