Agartala, July 14: Tripura Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Tuesday stressed the need for stronger coordination among the Transport Department, police, district administration and the public to enhance road safety and reduce accidents across the state.
Addressing a road safety sensitisation seminar on “The Motor Vehicles Act and Associated Rules” at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala, the minister said the programme served as a common platform for transport officials, police personnel and subject experts to deliberate on road safety challenges and enforcement measures. He urged officials to effectively implement the knowledge and best practices discussed during the seminar at the grassroots level.
Chowdhury noted that the number of registered vehicles in Tripura has increased significantly over the past five years, reflecting rapid growth in the state’s transport sector. Despite the rise in vehicular traffic, he said coordinated efforts by the Transport Department and Traffic Police have led to a 13 per cent reduction in road accidents, highlighting the effectiveness of joint enforcement and awareness initiatives.
The minister also highlighted key road safety initiatives launched by the Central government. Referring to the Rahavir (Good Samaritan) Scheme, he said citizens who help road accident victims by taking them to hospitals are rewarded and protected from unnecessary legal or police harassment, encouraging timely assistance that can save lives.
He further spoke about the PM Rahat cashless treatment scheme, under which road accident victims are entitled to cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh. According to the minister, nearly 60 accident victims in Tripura have already benefited from the scheme.
To strengthen emergency response, Chowdhury said the state government has deployed 16 modern ambulances and provided interceptor vehicles to the police to improve accident response time, traffic enforcement and overall road safety management.
Referring to recent Supreme Court directives on road safety, the minister called upon all stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules and safety norms.
Describing road safety as a shared responsibility, Chowdhury emphasised that public awareness remains the most effective way to prevent accidents and save lives. He announced that similar road safety awareness programmes would be organised in all districts of Tripura to promote responsible driving, strengthen enforcement and build a safer road environment across the state.
