Tripura recorded a 9% decline in road accidents and a 15% reduction in fatal accidents in 2025 compared to 2024. Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha distributed road safety equipment worth Rs 1.29 crore to strengthen traffic management and promote safer roads.
Tripura recorded a 9 per cent decline in road accidents and a 15 per cent reduction in fatal accidents in 2025 compared to 2024, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said on Saturday, highlighting the state government’s efforts to improve road safety and strengthen traffic management.
The Chief Minister made the statement while attending a road safety equipment distribution programme organised jointly by the Police and Transport departments at AD Nagar Police Ground in Agartala. Equipment worth Rs 1.29 crore was distributed under the Road Safety Fund to enhance traffic management, improve enforcement and reduce road accidents across the state.
The equipment included breath analysers, trolley barricades, helmets, raincoats, reflective jackets and road divider poles. As a symbolic gesture, Dr. Saha handed over a breath analyser to SP Traffic Kanta Jangir during the programme.
According to the Chief Minister, road accident deaths also declined by nearly 13 per cent in 2025 compared to the previous year. He attributed the improvement to measures taken by the state government but stressed that continued efforts were necessary to sustain the positive trend.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Saha said legislation and enforcement alone could not eliminate road accidents. He emphasised the importance of collective responsibility, public awareness and a better understanding of traffic regulations among drivers and pedestrians.
He noted that road accidents often cause devastating consequences for victims and their families. Apart from the loss of lives, accidents can result in permanent disabilities, emotional distress and severe financial difficulties. Such losses frequently have long-term consequences for affected families, making accident prevention a priority for the government.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that rapid urbanisation across the country, including Tripura, had made traffic management increasingly challenging over the past decade. Population growth and the rising number of private vehicles have added pressure on existing roads, many of which have not expanded at the same pace.
To address these challenges, Dr. Saha called for stronger coordination among the Police, Transport, Health and Public Works departments. He said regular discussions and joint planning were necessary to develop an effective strategy for reducing accidents and fatalities.
He also stressed the need to make greater use of technology in traffic management. Increased police patrolling at accident-prone locations, stronger digital surveillance and improved enforcement of traffic regulations were among the measures he highlighted.
The Chief Minister urged the concerned departments to intensify road safety awareness campaigns targeting drivers and the general public. He also called on parents to educate their children about traffic rules and responsible behaviour on roads from an early age.
Emphasising the importance of responsible driving, Dr. Saha appealed to two-wheeler riders to wear helmets and follow traffic regulations. He cautioned against speeding and reckless driving, stating that momentary excitement should never come at the cost of one’s own life or the lives of others.
He further directed the Police Department to take stricter action against indiscriminate roadside parking at night, which can create traffic obstructions and increase accident risks.
Referring to parking infrastructure in Agartala, the Chief Minister said a multi-storey parking facility had already been developed at the Old Motor Stand. The possibility of establishing similar facilities at Battala and Netaji Chowmuhani was also being considered.
Dr. Saha urged the Agartala Municipal Corporation and other concerned departments to ensure that adequate parking spaces were incorporated into residential apartment complexes and shopping malls. He said improved parking infrastructure was important for easing congestion and ensuring smoother traffic movement in the city.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, who also addressed the programme, said the Transport Department was working closely with the Police to reduce road accidents and improve emergency response.
He stated that the department had provided 16 ambulances to the police force and supplied modern interceptor vehicles to every district to strengthen traffic enforcement and facilitate quicker responses to road safety violations.
The minister also highlighted measures to encourage people to assist road accident victims. He said that, in accordance with Supreme Court directions, individuals who help injured victims are protected from unnecessary legal harassment.
Under the state’s Rah-Veer scheme, people who assist road accident victims are eligible for financial rewards. Chowdhury said 11 people had received Rs 26,000 each under the scheme so far.
He also referred to the Centre’s PM RAHAT scheme, under which eligible road accident victims can receive cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh at empanelled hospitals. According to the minister, Rs 6.5 lakh had been provided under the scheme in Tripura so far.
In hit-and-run cases, the family of a deceased victim is entitled to compensation of Rs 2 lakh, while Rs 50,000 is available for medical treatment in applicable cases, he added.
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Chowdhury said both the Central and state governments were working towards the goal of reducing road accidents to zero, underlining the importance of prevention, timely medical assistance and coordinated action.
In-charge Director General of Police G. S. Rao delivered the welcome address at the programme. Secretary of the Urban Development Department Milind Ramteke, Transport Department Secretary Uttam Kumar Chakma, and officials from the Police and Transport departments were also present.
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The programme highlighted the state government’s continued focus on road safety through equipment modernisation, stronger enforcement, improved emergency services and public awareness. Officials stressed that sustained cooperation among government departments, drivers and citizens would be essential to maintaining the decline in accidents and making Tripura’s roads safer.
