Agartala, July 2: Road safety cannot be ensured by laws and enforcement alone — it requires awareness, education, and a collective sense of responsibility from citizens, said Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha at a state-level road safety event held today at Swami Vivekananda Maidan, Agartala.
The event, organized by the Transport Department, marked the launch of a series of initiatives under the Assistance to States for Capital Investment Scheme. These included the formal distribution of 16 life-support ambulances to the state’s Traffic Police and Fire & Emergency Services, procured at a cost of ₹6.36 crore. In addition, a Vehicle Location Tracking and Surveillance System was inaugurated to enhance passenger safety.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the government is prioritizing the safety of citizens, and road safety is a key component of this mission. He emphasized that every road accident doesn’t just claim a life but causes a loss to families, society, and the state as a whole.
“Major road accidents are not just individual tragedies — they are a loss to the nation,” he said. “Many families are devastated, and valuable human resources are lost.”
Highlighting ongoing initiatives, the Chief Minister spoke about several road safety and accident-prevention programs being implemented in coordination with central and state governments. These include:
- RAAHI Scheme for first responders,
- ₹25,000 rewards for Good Samaritans who assist accident victims,
- Hit and Run Compensation, and
- Vehicle Scrapping Policy.
Dr. Saha further stressed the need for road safety education, especially for students, and urged parents to raise awareness among children. He identified major causes of road accidents as overspeeding, reckless driving, driving under the influence, failure to wear helmets or seatbelts, and distracted driving.
“Encouragingly, there has been a significant reduction in road accidents in Tripura compared to previous years,” he said, expressing hope that today’s initiatives would benefit citizens immensely.
Speaking at the event, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said the Transport and Traffic Departments are actively working to promote road safety and raise awareness. He mentioned several steps, including distribution of in-car tracking systems, Good Samaritan awareness programs, and installation of VLTD (Vehicle Location Tracking Device) in public vehicles.
“Assisting road accident victims is not just a duty rewarded with prizes, but a moral and social responsibility,” the minister added.
Earlier, Transport Secretary U. K. Chakma delivered the welcome address, while DGP Anurag and Additional Transport Secretary Subrata Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion. Agartala Mayor Deepak Majumder was present as well.
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