Road Mishaps In Odisha: 16,287 People Killed In 3 Years, Minister Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar: At least 16,287 people were killed in road accidents in last three years in Odisha, the state Assembly was informed on Thursday.

Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena shared this information while replying to a question by BJD MLA Chakramani Kanhar in the House.

While 16,287 human lives were lost in last three years, at least 30,453 people sustained injuries in road mishaps during the period, he said.

In order to prevent road mishaps, e-challans are issued to offenders for violating rules enlisted in the Motor Vehicles Act. For road ragers and drunken driving, as many as 37 interceptors with speed detection radar and breath analysers have been deployed along the Rajpath while all those found violating traffic guidelines will have their driving licenses suspended, the Minister said.

This apart, stringent measures under Sections 181 and 192 of Motor Vehicles Act are taken against owners of vehicles found violating traffic rules, he said.

Jena further stated that all police stations have been entrusted with powers to enforce traffic rules and take strict action against violators, as laid out in the guidelines. Besides, wearing of helmets while driving two-wheelers is being strictly monitored, apart from spreading traffic awareness among the public and fitting retro-reflective tapes on the rear end of private vehicles to check road raging incidents at night.

There are five government driving training centres and 5195 persons have been granted driving license for heavy vehicles in last two years, he added.