Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched 55 road safety programmes and projects across all districts of Odisha, with a total investment of Rs 5.75 billion.

The initiatives were unveiled during the inauguration of the Zero Accident Day and Road Safety Week event. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted the broader consequences of road accidents, stating that they not only impact individuals and families but also pose a significant burden on the state’s economy.

He noted that road accident-related fatalities have become a major concern in India, with speeding accounting for approximately 75.2 per cent of such deaths. He emphasised that drivers often overlook the basic principle of safe driving—while speed may thrill, it also kills. Other contributing factors to road fatalities, he added, include driving on the wrong side, driving under the influence of alcohol, and using mobile phones while on the road. He urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid such practices to protect both their own lives and those of others.

The Zero Accident Day campaign, being conducted in collaboration with IIT-Madras, will run until June 28. As part of the campaign, the Chief Minister inaugurated 11 Automated Driving Testing Systems (ADTS) in different districts, involving an investment of Rs 24 crore.

Additionally, he launched the second phase of the Driving Electronic Enforcement to Save Human Lives (DISHA) project, valued at Rs 2.15 billion, which will cover 485 km of national and state highways. He also laid the foundation for the third phase of the project, which is set to extend over 1,007 km.

Further, a second registered vehicle scrapping centre was inaugurated in Jajpur district. Odisha’s first automated vehicle-testing centre was launched in Cuttack, alongside foundation stones for 20 more such centres, to be established with a total investment of Rs 2.11 billion.

Majhi also flagged off 15 Volvo buses operating under the brand name Shri Jagannath Express, covering routes such as Puri to Ayodhya, Tirupati, Ujjain, Hyderabad, Bhilai, Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam, Bhawanipatna to Hyderabad, and Rayagada to Hyderabad. The state has allocated Rs 270.3 million for this initiative.

In addition, he inaugurated three Atal Bus Stands in Bhadrak and Balasore districts, as well as the Integrated Transport Management System (ITMS) and Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) of the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation. 

News source: New Indian Express