Now Reading: 11 Maharashtra districts targeted for zero road fatalities
-
01
11 Maharashtra districts targeted for zero road fatalities
Maharashtra has identified 11 accident-prone districts for intensive road safety measures under the Centre's Zero Fatality District (ZFD) programme. The roadmap was presented during the visit of Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Chairman…
Maharashtra has identified 11 accident-prone districts for intensive road safety measures under the Centre's Zero Fatality District (ZFD) programme. The roadmap was presented during the visit of Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, who chaired a workshop in Mumbai this week.
The districts selected are Pune, Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Nagpur, Thane, Solapur, Satara, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded and Amravati. Maharashtra has mapped over 600 accident black spots. The strategy includes correction of hazardous stretches, strengthening emergency response during the 'golden hour', and promoting the Good Samaritan Scheme, which rewards helpers with Rs 25,000 and provides treatment assistance of up to Rs 1.5 lakh to victims.
The state is also expanding trauma care, deploying Intelligent Traffic Management Systems, and promoting the Sadak Suraksha Mitra initiative for trained first responders. Officials said the combined approach aims to move closer to zero road fatalities.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Maharashtra accounts for roughly 10% of India's road accident deaths, with over 16,000 fatalities annually. The ZFD programme, originally piloted in select districts, now targets districts where the death toll is highest. The key gap has been post-crash response: under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the 'golden hour' provision mandates cashless treatment for accident victims up to Rs 1.5 lakh, but compliance varies. The state's focus on black spot mapping and the Good Samaritan Scheme addresses two long-standing bottlenecks: dangerous road design and bystander reluctance. The Supreme Court committee will monitor progress through quarterly reviews, with the next deadline for black spot rectification likely set for June.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
