Bhubaneswar: In a novel initiative to reduce the number of accidents, the Odisha government has decided to make arrangement for offering free tea to drivers of vehicles during night on highways in the state.
Giving this information, Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu said that free team will be offered to the night drivers in roadside dhabas and hotels. The drivers will also be provided with facilities to take rest.
Collectors of different districts will identify the eating joints where free tea can be served, sources said. The drivers will be offered free tea to avoid drowsiness and sleeping related accidents at night.
Necessary arrangements will be made by the regional transport offices (RTOs) for offering free tea primarily during observation of road safety week from January 1 to 7 next year.
A meeting chaired by Commerce and transport department principal secretary Usha Padhee has decided to intensify traffic checking in the morning and evening hours and take stringent action against drunk driving, wrong route driving and other traffic rule violations.
Padhee has directed officials to take initiatives to reduce accidents during road safety week. She also directed STA commissioner to issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) for enforcement at picnic spots in view of the ongoing picnic season.
Besides, the RTOs have been directed to organise health camps near roadside petrol pumps, hotels for eye check-up of drivers.
