HISTORYAND GENESIS ABOUT ODISHA ROAD SAFETY SOCIETY It was decided in a meeting in the year 1996 under the chairmanship of Transport Commissioner to form a society namely Odisha Road Safety Society with the objective of implementing different road safety programmes all over the state more intensively and effectively & it was decided to register the above said society under the Society Registration Act XXI of 1860. Accordingly, Odisha Road Safety Society was registered under Societies Registration Act No. XXI th of 1860 on 5 October, 1996 which is now working in the premises of State Transport Authority, Cuttack under the Chairmanship of Transport Commissioner. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To implement different Govt Programmes on Road Safety all over the State. 2. To prepare/sell/distribute Road Safety materials like publication on road safety, leaflets, posters, slides etc among the road users, different institutions, schools and colleges, voluntary organizations and general public. 3. To create public awareness regarding prevention of road accidents. 4. To undertake / organize creative and purposive exhibitions/ workshops /seminars on road safety all over the State. 5. To promote partnership and networking with societies, associations and organizations involved in the field of road safety all over the country and abroad. AREA OF OPERATION: The area of operation of the society shall be the whole State of Odisha. GOVERNING BODY: The Governing Body of the Society comprises of Transport Commissioner, Senior Officers of STA, Regional Transport Officers, Inspectors of Motor Vehicles, representatives of State Private Bus & Truck Owner'sAssociations. FUNCTIONS Some of the important functions of the Governing Body are: a. To serve as policy making body. b. To tie up with Central/State Government for resources i.e materials and financial resources for successful implementation of the road safety programme. c. To devise ways and means for local generation of resource in the eventuality of experience of deficit in the financial aid from Central/State. d. To add to and modify rules to strengthen the implementation of the programmes. e. To regulate the expenditure from time to time as and when required. FINANCIAL TRANSACTION a. The funds of the Odisha Road Safety Society shall consist of contribution from Central Government, State Government and its own generated resources. The funds of the society shall be spent for fulfilment of the objectives and for the management of the society b. The accounts of the society shall be audited by a qualified auditor or a Govt.Auditor annually.
2 ACTIVITIES YEAR DURING THE Introduction Road Transport plays the anchor role in all round development process of the nation. It diversifies all economic activities, ultimately improving the very quality of life. But in the process of its multidimensional role, the society and human beings continue to bear with one of the painful negative externalities of road transport operation, otherwise termed as road accident. During the year 2012, 4.90 lakh road accidents occurred in India, in which 5.09 lakh people were injured and 1.38 lakh people were killed. This indicates that in each minute there is a road accident and there is one road accident death in 3.55 Road Accidents in Odisha Year No. of Accidents People Killed No. of Accidents & Deaths minutes. Most of the road accident victims are the young people, who are economically active. As per Planning Commission estimate the total economic loss to society on account of road accidents is estimated at over Rs.55,000/- crore per annum. During the year 2012, 9285 road accidents occurred in Odisha, in which 3701 people were killed and more than ten thousand people were injured. Contrary to the national scenario, the number of road accidents and deaths are at a decreasing trend in our state since last two years. But we have a high death rate i.e. no. of deaths per 100 accidents in Odisha compared to the national average. 9413 Road Accidents & Deaths in Odisha 3837 9398 9285 3802 3701 2010 2011 2012 Year A number of steps have been undertaken by Odisha Road Safety Society to reduce road accidents and for post accident care. The activities undertaken are: 1) 24X7 Accident Help Line People Injured 2010 9413 3837 11399 2011 9398 3802 11248 2012 9285 3701 10715 STA is committed to the safety of commuters on the road. In order to provide instant first-aid to road accident victims and to shift them to the nearest hospital Odisha Road Safety Society has opened nine Accident Help lines in collaboration with NGOs and Truck Owners Associations. On obtaining information of accident, an ambulance equipped with first-aid facilities will rush to the spot to aid the victim. Toll Free Telephone No. - 1073 have been connected to the accident help lines. Around 865 cases have been attended by the Helplines during 2012-13. The operational details of the helplines are mentioned overleaf:
3 Area of operation of the helplines Meramunduli to Rairakhole NH-42 Khalikote to Girisola NH-5 Jharsuguda to Sambalpur NH-6 Baramunda Bus stand to Khurda NH-5 Samantray Pur to Pipili Bargaon to Bhasma Bargaon to Vedvyas Bangiriposi to Baripada & Baripada to Baisinga Khuntuni to Manguli, Khuntuni to Dhenkanal, Khuntuni to Athagarh. Name of the NGO operating the Help line Angul Truck Owner s Association Berhampur Truck Owner s Association Rengali Truck Owner s Association NGO - SAHAYA NGO - SAHAYA Sundergarh Truck Owner s Association Rajagangapur Truck Owner s Association NGO - VARD Khuntuni Truck Owner s Association 3. Distribution of Driver's Manual: For dissemination of better driving skill, Driver s Manual GADI CHALANA in the language of Oriya, Hindi & Telugu are being distributed at the time of issue of Learner s License at the counters of RT O 2. Formation of Traffic Clubs : Traffic clubs have been formed to generate Road Safety Awareness among the NH & SH side High Schools of Ganjam District. Such Clubs have been formed in 100 High Schools and 50 colleges of Gnajam District. From each school / college one teacher would be trained on various road safety activities. Concerned teacher will teach the students on road rules and other road safety related activities.for this propose Rs.3.75 Lakh i.e. Rs.2500 per high school / college have been provided to the District Road Safety Committee of Ganjam District. After successful implementation in Ganjam District it will be extended to other Districts of the State. 4. Awareness through Print Media : For generation of Road Safety Awareness among public, road safety related informatory / cautionary messages were published through print media. During the year 2012-13 Rs. 8.50 lakh was spent towards publication of awareness messages on road safety through print media. 5. Deployment of Home-Guards As directed by Hon ble High Court Odisha as a road safety measure five home guards have been deployed in Cuttack city to regulate the movement of town buses.
4 6. Observance Of National Road Safety Week : National road safety week was observed throughout the State by the RTOs with the financial support of Odisha Road Safety Society. During this week eye testing camps, health check- up camps were organized for the drivers. Also awareness camps were organized in schools, colleges and road side villages. This year the message was StayAlive, Don t Drink and Drive 7. Road Safety Equipment : Considering the traffic congestion in the twin city Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and on the request of Commissionarate Police, Rs. 42.00 Lakh have been provided for purchase of two Bolero mounted cranes and two 407 mounted cranes. Like- wise, Rs. 21.00 Lakh was provided to the I.G.of Police(provisioning), Odisha, Cuttack f o r purchase of big / small cranes for use in Puri t o w n. T h e s e equipments are being optimally utilized by the Commissionarate Police and S.P. Puri for traffic clearance. Also Rs.3.60 Lakh have been provided to D.C.P., Cuttack for purchase of stop bars, traffic regulatory cones etc. 8. Workshops & Seminars : To generate road safety awareness among the road users a number of workshops and seminars were organised at state level and at district level with the financial support of Odisha Road Safety Society. The state level meeting was organised at Bhubaneswar. Hon ble Chief Minister, Odisha graced the occasion as the Chief Guest,. Hon ble Minister, Commerce & Transport, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Govt. Commerce and Transport, Transport Commissioner, Odisha also attended the meeting. Representatives of State Truck & Private Bus Owner s Associations, NGOs working in the field of road safety participated in the meeting. Workshops and meetings were also organised at district level by RTOs with the financial support of Odisha Road Safety Society. 9. Health Check-up Camps : Health Check-up camps such as : eye
5 testing camps and blood check-up camps were organised by the RTOs at district level with the support of Odisha Road Safety Society. 10. Painting Competition : th During the 24 National Road Safety week painting competition were organised among the school students at district level with the financial support of Odisha Road Safety Society by the RTOs. The topic of the competition was An Indisciplined Traffic Square. Prizes were given to the best 3 paintings in each district. At the state level also best three paintings were felicited by the Hon ble Chief Minister at a state level function. 11. Slogan Competition : Road Safety related slogan competition organised at the district level with the financial assistance of Odisha Road Safety Society. Awareness on road safety through street plays was highly appreciated by the public. The street play team of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Koraput, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur were invited to Bhubaneswar and they performed their play at important locations of Bhubaneswar city. The best team was awarded by Hon ble Chief Minister on the state level function. 13. Highway Interceptor : among the school students were organised in all the districts of the state with the financial support of Odisha Road Safety Society by the RTOs in consultation with the field level officers of School & Mass Education Department. Prizes were distributed to the best 3 slogans in each district. At the state level also best three slogans were honoured by the Hon ble Chief Minister at a state level function. 12. Street Plays : Street plays with road safety messages were Most of the road accidents are caused due to speed and drunken driving. In order to have a check on both of these, Odisha Road Safety
6 Society is operating a Highway Interceptor vehicle fitted with speed detecting radar and breathe analyser which is donated by MORT&H, Govt. of India. One driver, one camera man & home guard have been engaged to run the Highway Interceptor out of Odisha Road Safety Society fund. Following number of offences have been detected through Interceptor vehicle during last three years Year No. of VCRs issued C. F. Collected 2010 2011 2012 2514 1406 889 `13,13,970/- `15,12,547/- `12,12,150/- 14. Hoarding on Highway Sides : To create road safety awareness among the road users while driving / using the road, Odisha Road 16. Activities during Rath Yatra : For the convenience of pilgrims during the world famous Rath Yatra a number of steps were taken by the Odisha Road Safety Society: i) Special Emergency Ward : Considering the heat wave during the time of Rath Yatra Special Emergency Ward having 40 beds was opened in the District Head Quarter Hospital of Puri for which two split Air Conditioners were provided by the Odisha Road Safety Society at a cost of Rs. 60,400/-. Patients suffering from dehydration highly praised this noble act. ii) First-aid kit Distribution: During the Rath Yatra lakhs of devotees visit to Puri by buses. Expecting any untoward situation during travel, Orissa Road Safety Society distributed 650 First-aid kits containing medicines like Betadin lotion, cotton, bandage, pain killers etc.to the buses going to Puri from Badam Badi Bus Stand, Baramunda Bus Stand and also buses leaving from Puri Bus Stand. Safety Society has taken the initiative to erect hoardings displaying various road safety information on sides of high ways. Odisha Road Safety Society has provided Rs.16.63 lakh to RTOs to execute the work. 15. Strengthening Enforcement Activities : Enforcement activities play an important role in reducing road accidents. Odisha Road Safety Society has provided assistance in the form of hired vehicle, POL and Home Guards to different RTOs to punish the road rule violators. During the year 2012-13 Odisha Road Safety Society has spent around Rs. 70.00 lakh in this regard. iii) Rest sheds during Car Festival at Puri: During Rath Yatra the bus stand of Puri is generally shifted to Talabania, which is a
7 little distant from the Puri town. Hence for the comfort of the devotees a temporary rest shed was constructed by the Odisha Road Safety Society at Talabania with provisions of drinking water, toilet facility etc for 5000 pilgrims at a cost of Rs3.10 lakh. iv) Rest sheds during Car Festival at Badambadi & Kalpana Square : For the convenience of devotees temporary rest sheds were constructed at Badambadi bus stand, Cuttack & Kalpana Square bus stand, Bhubaneswar with provisions of drinking water with the support of Local Bus Owner s Associations. This was inaugurated by Hon ble Minister Commerce & Transport, Govt. of Odisha. v) Traffic Regulation: Considering huge movement of traffic during the Rath Yatra five Highway Interceptor vehicles were deployed at and around Puri to have a check on speed driving and drunken driving out of Odisha Road Safety Society Fund. vi) Deployment of Cranes & Ambulances : To remove breakdowns and unauthorised parking 3 Cranes were deployed at Puri with the financial assistance of Odisha Road Safety Society. Also one Ambulance was deployed at Puri during the Rath Yatra. 17. Solar Traffic Blinkers : In its effort to reduce road accidents, Orissa Road Safety Society has installed Solar Traffic Blinkers at different road stretches of Mayurbhanj District. Solar Traffic Blinkers have been installed at Palbani by pass, Takat Pur Junction, Murgabadi Golei, Palbani Golei of Mayurbhanj district. These blinkers were inaugurated by Sri Sanjaya Kumar Behera, R.T.O., Mayurbhanj during th observance of 24 National Road Safety Week. Role and importance of road transport in our economy cannot be underscored. Roads are the life line of a Country s economic growth and prosperity. Unfortunately, road accidents also are a cause for tragic loss of human life and property in our Country. Fortunately, Odisha Road Safety Society is taking every precaution to curb this tragedy through a host of benevolent measures ranging from providing ambulances, 24x7 accident help lines, cautionary messages and precautions to commuters, to enforcement measures for checking rash and reckless driving Odisha Road Safety Society
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