Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday launched an alarm system for drivers on Kalinga Ghati in Kandhamal district as part of an innovative initiative to ensure road safety.
Considered the first-of-its-kind initiative for ghat road safety, the alert siren system at Kalinga Ghati was inaugurated during an event marking the National Road Safety Month.
Introduced as a pilot project, the alarm system will sound warnings when vehicles approach from both directions on the winding hilly stretch. The model would be replicated on other ghati roads across the state in phases, depending on its success, the Chief Minister said.
Stressing that road safety has been made an integral part of Good Governance, he said the initiative would ensure sustained focus and accountability among officials.
Majhi also announced the launch of the ‘Sadak Surakshya Yojana Samman’, under which districts, educational institutions and private organisations will be felicitated for exemplary road safety measures.
The Chief Minister further highlighted the four ‘E’ policy for road safety—Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency—and announced the addition of two more components: Environment and Evaluation. He said these six ‘E’s would strengthen and further develop road safety programmes in the state.
Calling upon people to adopt responsible driving practices, Majhi unveiled the slogan ‘Drive Safe, Come Home Safe’.
Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj were among the dignitaries present at the event.
