Cuttack: The Orissa high court has directed the state govt to submit a status report within three weeks on the implementation of the road safety policy of Odisha-2015, which aims to achieve zero road accidents.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho, issued the direction following submissions by amicus curiae Asok Mohanty, who emphasised the need to review the measures taken for effective policy implementation.
The road safety policy, introduced through a commerce and transport department resolution in February 2015, set ambitious targets to reduce road accidents by 50% and fatalities by 20%. The policy prioritises pedestrian and cyclist safety across the state’s road network.
The matter gained attention after Manish Kumar Thacker filed a petition highlighting frequent fatal accidents on State Highway-10 and NH-49 in Jharsuguda district, attributed to increased heavy vehicle movement. Recognising the issue’s public importance, the court converted it into a suo motu PIL and appointed senior advocate Mohanty as amicus curiae in October.
According to the policy’s preamble, Odisha records over 10 road accident deaths daily, causing not only loss of lives but also significant economic impact and emotional trauma to families.
While the state govt has filed a counter affidavit, Mohanty pointed out that it failed to outline specific measures taken to address the alarming death rate in Jharsuguda town and district.
The govt had earlier expressed its commitment to implementing ‘concerted measures’ to control accidents and ensure safe travel for all road users, making the policy a guiding document for departments concerned and the public.