Lok Sabha Question No. 4002 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Road Safety Audit in Odisha
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4002 ANSWERED ON 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## ROAD SAFETY AUDIT IN ODISHA

4002.         SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  increasing  number  of road  accidents  and  fatalities  in  Odisha,  particularly  on  national highways;
- (b) if so, the details of road safety audits conducted in Odisha during the last three financial years, i.e., 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, along with the measures taken to address identified risks;
- (c) the  funds  allocated  and  utilized  for  road  safety  improvement initiatives,  such  as  installation  of  signage,  crash  barriers  and pedestrian crossings, during the same period; and
- (d) whether the Government has initiated awareness programmes on road safety in Odisha and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) The Central Government  publishes  annual report on  'Road Accidents in India' based on data received from States/ UTs. As per the report for the year 2022, number of road accidents and fatalities in the state  of  Odisha  on  all  category  of  roads  including  National  Highways (NHs) from year 2018 to 2022 is given in the table below : -

|       | No. of road accidents in Odisha State   | No. of road accidents in Odisha State   | No. of road accident fatalities in Odisha State   | No. of road accident fatalities in Odisha State   |
|-------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Year  | On all roads including NHs              | On NHs                                  | On all roads including NHs                        | On NHs                                            |
| 2018  | 11,262                                  | 4,207                                   | 5,315                                             | 1,999                                             |
| 2019  | 11,064                                  | 4,148                                   | 5,333                                             | 2,000                                             |
| 2020* | 9,817                                   | 3,673                                   | 4,738                                             | 1,781                                             |
| 2021* | 10,983                                  | 4,087                                   | 5,081                                             | 1,933                                             |
| 2022  | 11,663                                  | 4,317                                   | 5,467                                             | 2,043                                             |

(b)  and  (c)   The  Government  in  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and Highways is mandated with the task of constructing  and  maintaining National Highways in the Country while the State/UT Governments are responsible for State Highways and other roads. Details of Road Safety Audit of National Highways in Odisha State conducted during the last three financial years (FY) are as under:-

| Financial YearRoad Safety Audit conducted (NHs length in kilometers)   |   Financial YearRoad Safety Audit conducted (NHs length in kilometers) |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2021-22                                                                |                                                                 2098   |
| 2022-23                                                                |                                                                 1849.5 |
| 2023-24                                                                |                                                                 1996   |

Short-term  and  long-term  remedial  measures  are  taken  as  per  site requirement.  Short-term  measures  includes  road  markings,  signages, crash barriers, raised pavement  markers, delineators, closure of median openings, traffic calming measures, etc. Long-term rectification measures includes improvement of road geometrics, junction improvements, spot widening of carriageway, construction of underpasses/overpasses, etc.

Details of the fund allocated and  utilized  by  National  Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for Road Safety works on National Highways under  their  jurisdiction  in  the  State  of  Odisha  during  the  last  three financial years is given below : -

| FY Funds allocated (Rs. in crore)Funds utilized (Rs. in crore)   |   FY Funds allocated (Rs. in crore)Funds utilized (Rs. in crore) |
|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2021-2220.13                                                     |                                                            20.13 |
| 2022-2379.60                                                     |                                                            50.5  |
| 2023-24155.90                                                    |                                                            62    |

- (d)   The Government  in Ministry of Road  Transport  &  Highways administers Road Safety Advocacy Scheme to provide financial assistance to various agencies for raising awareness about road safety and  for  administering  road  safety  programs.  Under  this  scheme,  the Government  has  sanctioned  a  sum  of  Rs.137.69  lakh  to  different Organizations  for  conducting  programs  on  Road  Safety  awareness  in Odisha State since FY 2020-21.

The  Government  also  conducts  awareness  campaigns  through  social media to promote road safety. National Road Safety Month is observed annually to create road safety awareness.

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