Road accident-related deaths are spiralling in Odisha and it is continuing year after year, which has become a major concern for the State Government.
While the Supreme Court is directing the State Government to curb fatalities on roads due to drunken driving, badly-maintained State Highways and National Highways and over-speeding are making things worse, feel senior officials.
An analysis of statistics on road accidents reveal that at least 69 per cent accidents occur in districts of Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Subarnapur, Balangir, Gajapati, Kalahandi and Koraput.
While the State Government is stressing on an action plan to reduce accidents and to identify stretches, which are more accident-prone, lack of action is leading to the rising mishaps.
There is increase in number of accidents in Khordha, Jajpur, Baleswar, Sambalpur, Balangir and Sambalpur in 2017 in comparison to 2016.
Between January to August 2016, there were 7,048 accidents and in January-August-2017 there were 7,228 accidents and the above six districts has recorded most number of road accidents, said official sources.
Khodha district tops the list as during January-August-2016 there were 556 accidents and during corresponding period of 2017, there were 594 accidents causing serious concern among the officials.
Similarly, in Sundargarh district, 522 accidents occurred between January-August 2016 and in January-August-2017 there were 520 accidents, which is a matter of concern.
There are more than 250 black spots identified and both short term and long term measures are needed to be taken by authorities.
With rise in accidents, enforcement has been tightened and up to November, more than 70,000 offences have been detected.
Regional Transport Office authorities have suspended over 66,000 Driving Licenses till date, however more is needed to be done, feel senior officials.