The Odisha government has announced a major new initiative to improve road safety across the state, introducing a performance-based award system directly from the Chief Minister's office. The move is designed to incentivize districts to drastically reduce the number of deaths on their roads.
Financial Incentives for Top Performers
Under this new scheme, the state plans to reward districts that demonstrate exceptional performance in saving lives. The best-performing district, which successfully reduces accident fatalities by a significant 50%, will be awarded a substantial prize of Rs 1.5 crore. This financial reward is intended to recognize and fund further road safety efforts.
The competition does not end with the top spot. The government has also set aside rewards for the second and third-ranked districts. The district securing the second position will receive Rs 1 crore, while the third-placed district will be granted Rs 50 lakh. A senior transport official confirmed these details, which were outlined in an official letter viewed by TOI on Friday.
Expanding the Traffic Warden Initiative
A key part of the government's multi-pronged strategy is the expansion of the 'traffic warden' program. This initiative, which has been active in the capital city Bhubaneswar, will now be rolled out to six other districts that have been identified as having high fatality rates.
These districts are Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Jajpur, and Khurda. To staff this expansion, the government will deploy 500 traffic wardens. This force will be composed of ex-servicemen and retired police personnel, leveraging their experience and discipline.
The official breakdown of warden deployment is as follows: Sundargarh and Ganjam will each get 100 wardens, Mayurbhanj will receive 90, Keonjhar will have 75, Jajpur will be assigned 40, Khurda will get 45, and the city of Rourkela, which falls under Sundargarh district, will be allocated 50 wardens.
Focus on Young and New Drivers
Recognizing that young drivers are a crucial demographic for road safety education, the state is launching a special monitoring project focused on higher educational institutions. While 18 is the legal age for driving in India, the government aims to instill a strong sense of responsibility and awareness from the very beginning of a driver's journey.
As part of this project, video recordings will be conducted outside educational institutes and coaching centers during the busy arrival and departure times. The footage captured will then be shared with the respective institutions so they can take corrective measures with their students. A dedicated budget of Rs 50 lakh has been sanctioned to get this project off the ground.
Furthermore, to foster innovation among the youth, the government will organize zonal-level road safety exhibitions across all districts. College and university students will be invited to participate and showcase their innovative ideas for improving road safety. From these zonal events, 12 institutes—two from each zone—will be shortlisted to compete at a grand state-level exhibition. The three most outstanding entries will be honored at a state function and presented with cash prizes.
This comprehensive plan, combining financial incentives, experienced personnel on the ground, and a focus on educating the next generation of drivers, represents a significant step by the Odisha government to tackle the pressing issue of road accidents and make the state's roads safer for everyone.
