Odisha signs pact with Delhi NGO on road safety

BHUBANESWAR: The state transport authority (STA) on Thursday signed a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) with Delhi-based Save Life Foundation (SLF), an NGO, that works for road safety.
SLF has been tasked to identify accident-prone stretches, find out the causes of accidents and recommend remedial measures to create zero-fatality corridors in Odisha. The STA said the MoU aims at reducing road deaths in the next three years.
"Road safety is a very high priority area for us. SLF has improved road safety situation in various states. I am sure our combined efforts will bring good results in Odisha as well. Once the remedial measures are suggested and implemented, we hope the fatalities will be reduced by around 30-50 per cent," said STA chairman and transport commissioner Arun Bothra said.
Piyush Tewari, founder and CEO of SLF, said his agency will work on the zero-fatality corridor model through a 360 degree intervention across engineering, emergency trauma care, enforcement and education.
The development came close on heels of chief minister Naveen Patnaik launching a road safety initiative under the banner of Rakshak - a first responders training programme on November 10. At least 30,000 volunteers, who stay or work at eateries and different business establishments near the accident-prone spots, are being trained as the first responders to road accidents.
Road accident-related deaths have increased by nearly 21% from 3,931 deaths in 2014 to 4,738 in 2020 in the state.