After Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Gujarat, Odisha is also in the race of formulating the Road Safety Act under which a senior IAS or IPS officer will be made in charge to address all the road safety issues in the state.
In a meeting held by the Development Commissioner, Pradeep Kumar Jena, the state government pressed on the feasibility of formulating the Road Safety Act to the commerce and transport department.
An official letter regarding the formulation of the Road Safety Act read, “One senior IAS or IPS officer with a minimum 16 years of experience may be posted under the transport commissioner to look after the road safety. New posts for road safety may be created. The commerce and transport department may work towards the enactment of a state road safety authority Act.”
Odisha in recent years has recorded a hike in the fatality rate due to road accidents. The fatality rate (death per 100 accidents) is about 48.2% in the state as compared to the national average of 36.6%.
Except Deogarh, Ganjam, Puri and Sonepur, all other 26 districts witnessed an increase in accident deaths. “The district collectors have been asked to submit reports on the reasons for the abnormal rise in accidents and deaths within 15 days. They have also been asked whether they need any support from the state government,” state transport secretary Madhu Sudan Padhi’s letter to the district collectors on Friday read.
