Agartala, October 1: The Tripura State Road Safety Council on Wednesday called for coordinated action by government departments, stronger enforcement of traffic rules and sustained public awareness campaigns to reduce road accidents and improve the safety of pedestrians and commuters.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury chaired the 18th meeting of the Council at the Secretariat, where senior officials from several departments reviewed various aspects of road safety.
The meeting was attended by the Secretaries of Health, Public Works, Finance, and Revenue and Disaster Management, besides Additional and Joint Secretaries of the Transport Department.
The Director of Higher Education and Superintendent of Traffic Police were also present. District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from all eight districts participated in the meeting through video conference.
Chowdhury said efforts to prevent road accidents could not depend solely on administrative action or enforcement and stressed the importance of responsible behaviour by motorists, pedestrians and other road users.
He said greater awareness, discipline and collective responsibility were necessary to create a safer transport environment in the state.
“Safe Roads, Secure Lives—road safety is our shared responsibility,” Chowdhury said.
The Council discussed measures to prevent accidents through improved coordination between government departments and enforcement agencies.
Officials also examined measures to strengthen pedestrian and passenger safety in urban and rural areas and discussed ways to complement traffic enforcement with awareness programmes.
The participants emphasised the need for regular coordination and monitoring to ensure road safety measures were implemented effectively at the district and local levels.
An integrated approach combining road infrastructure improvements with behavioural changes among road users was stressed during the deliberations as a means of reducing road accident deaths and injuries.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of compliance with basic safety measures, including wearing helmets, using seatbelts and observing prescribed speed limits.
Officials stressed the need to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol, which was identified as another area requiring sustained enforcement and public awareness.
The Council’s discussions are expected to guide further initiatives relating to traffic enforcement, road safety infrastructure and community participation in accident prevention.
The participation of officials from the administration, police, health, public works and other departments, along with district-level representatives, reflected the multi-agency approach being adopted to address road safety issues across Tripura.
