The 18th meeting of the State Road Safety Council was convened on Wednesday at the Secretariat, chaired by Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, with a strong emphasis on coordinated action and public awareness to reduce road accidents and ensure safer travel across Tripura.

The meeting brought together senior officials from multiple departments, including the Secretaries of Health, Public Works, Finance, and Revenue & Disaster Management, as well as the Additional and Joint Secretaries of the Transport Department. The Director of Higher Education, the Superintendent of Traffic Police, and the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from all eight districts joined virtually. Other senior officers from relevant departments were also present, reflecting the multi‑agency approach required for road safety.

Minister Chowdhury underscored that preventing road accidents and ensuring the safety of pedestrians and passengers cannot be achieved by administrative measures alone. He stressed the importance of public awareness and responsible behaviour by all road users, noting that discipline and collective responsibility are key to building a safer transport system in the state.

He reiterated the Council’s guiding principle: “Safe Roads, Secure Lives—road safety is our shared responsibility.”

The meeting featured detailed deliberations on critical aspects of road safety, including:

Accident prevention strategies through better coordination among departments.

Pedestrian and passenger safety measures to reduce risks in urban and rural areas.

Strengthening enforcement of traffic rules alongside awareness campaigns.

Inter‑departmental collaboration to ensure effective implementation of safety initiatives.

Officials agreed that a more integrated and proactive approach is needed to minimise fatalities and injuries, with emphasis on both infrastructure improvements and behavioural change among road users.

Notably, the meeting comes at a time when Tripura has been intensifying efforts to reduce road accidents, with campaigns highlighting the importance of wearing helmets, seatbelts, adhering to speed limits, and avoiding drunk driving. The Council’s deliberations are expected to shape upcoming initiatives aimed at strengthening both law enforcement and community participation in road safety.