Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will soon be launching Zero Accident Day (ZAD) in the state for a 30-day campaign.
It’s a first-of-its-kind, multi-stakeholder initiative spearheaded by women which aims to create a cultural shift towards responsible road usage.
Experts from IIT Madras presented key strategies to drive this ambitious campaign at a high-level preparatory meeting which was convened on Wednesday under the chairpersonship of Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport, Usha Padhee, at Kharavela Bhawan here.
Senior officials, law enforcement agencies, urban planners and municipal bodies who were present at the meeting focused on designing impactful interventions that will reshape road safety norms.
“Road safety is not just a policy — it is a mission that requires every citizen’s participation,” Padhee said, underscoring the need for collective responsibility and inter-departmental synergy in making this initiative a success.
“Through Zero Accident Day, we are empowering communities, particularly women, to lead the charge in making our streets safer, smarter, and more inclusive,” Padhee added.
The campaign will deploy innovative, evidence-based interventions to minimise accidents, promote responsible driving behaviour, and cultivate a safety-first mindset among commuters.
Women will play a pivotal role as ambassadors of change, leading awareness drives, engaging with communities, and demonstrating leadership in mobility solutions.
CMD OSRTC Diptesh Kumar Pattanayak, Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur, Commissioner of Police BBSR-CTC Dr S Dev Datta Singh, MD CRUT Dr N Thirumala Naik took part in the discussions along with representatives from IIT Madras, senior officials, and key stakeholders.
