Rourkela RTO observes Road Safety Week to tackle rising traffic concerns

The Transport Department in Rourkela embarked on a proactive initiative to combat the rising number of road accidents by launching a Road Safety Week, official sources said on Thursday.

The Road Safety Week was on January 1, 2025, and will continue till January 7.

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According to official sources, the event commenced with a mega rally from Hanuman Vatika Chhak, drawing attention to the involvement of police officers and students committed to promoting road safety awareness.

The impetus for this initiative stems from the alarming rise in traffic snarls within Rourkela, particularly involving younger demographics. In light of these developments, the local Police and Regional Transport Office (RTO) have stepped up enforcement measures, conducting thorough checks and setting up blockades to mitigate such occurrences.

Complementing these enforcement actions, engaging street plays on road safety are being staged to educate the general public about prudent driving practices.

“Special emphasis is being given to road safety in January across Odisha. The objective of this is to focus on enforcement and awareness, including structural issues,” Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani stated when contacted.

“The rate of accidents is very high in this region, particularly between the age group of 18 to 48 years. Most importantly, driving under the influence of alcohol is more,” the SP said.

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“We are emphasising more to educate the youngsters,” the SP further said.

Worth mentioning, Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena earlier presented a report in the Odisha Assembly, which revealed that road accidents in the State claim the lives of around 15 persons a day.

In the past three years, road mishaps have taken 16,287 lives and left 30,453 injured.