Photo Courtesy: nenow
Agartala: Chief Minister Manik Saha handed out new safety equipment at the AD Nagar Police Ground on October 10. The state spent Rs 1.29 crore from the Road Safety Fund to bolster traffic control. Gear included 10,025 helmets, 1,333 LED shoulder lights for officers, 625 reflective jackets, 250 road cones, and 180 breath analysers.
Saha reported a 9 per cent drop in accidents for 2025 compared to 2024. Fatalities fell by 13 per cent. Accidents causing deaths dropped by 15 per cent. Despite these gains, the Chief Minister demanded tighter discipline. He argued that the ultimate goal is to protect citizens. "The ultimate goal of traffic control should be to save lives rather than simply enforce the law," Saha said.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, DGP G S Rao, and Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke attended the event. Saha insisted that road safety is not just a police issue. He called for coordination between the Public Works Department, the Health Department, and urban planners in Agartala, Udaipur, and Dharmanagar. He wants regular awareness campaigns in schools and colleges instead of one-off events.
The Chief Minister also targeted infrastructure and licensing. He pushed for dedicated cycling lanes and stricter, more transparent driving tests. New buildings must provide parking, he added, as towing operations jumped 182 per cent this year. Saha directed police to use breath analysers more often at night. He warned that helmet laws apply to everyone, regardless of status. Officials must now focus on technology, including electronic challans and better accident databases, to keep the state's roads clear.
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