Agartala, June 17: In a significant step toward strengthening road safety and reducing highway accidents, the Tripura Government has initiated a comprehensive action plan following a landmark directive issued by the Supreme Court of India. The move comes in response to the apex court’s order aimed at improving safety standards on national highways and expressways across the country.
The Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognizance of two tragic road accidents in Rajasthan’s Phalodi and Telangana’s Ranga Reddy districts in November 2025 that claimed 34 lives, issued a far-reaching directive on April 13, 2026. The order called for stringent measures to remove illegal encroachments, prevent unauthorized parking, and address deficiencies in safety infrastructure along highways.
To ensure effective implementation of the court’s directives, Transport and Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury chaired a high-level hybrid meeting at the Secretariat’s Video Conference Hall on Tuesday. The meeting brought together senior officials from multiple departments, including Home, Transport, Health, Public Works, Rural Development, Urban Development, Revenue, and Panchayat departments.
District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Traffic Police officials, and representatives of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) also participated in the discussions.
The meeting focused on formulating practical and coordinated strategies to enhance road safety throughout the state. Key areas of discussion included strengthening traffic enforcement, improving road infrastructure, eliminating encroachments, regulating roadside parking, and enhancing emergency medical response systems for accident victims.
Addressing the participants, Minister Chowdhury emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility and called for coordinated efforts from all stakeholders. “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. We must work together to ensure strict compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive and build safer roads for all citizens,” he said.
Officials also discussed mechanisms to improve inter-departmental coordination and develop a comprehensive framework that not only prevents accidents but also ensures prompt rescue and medical assistance in emergency situations.
The initiative marks a major shift in Tripura’s approach to road safety and aligns the state with national efforts to reduce road fatalities. By proactively implementing the Supreme Court’s directives, the state government aims to enhance public safety, strengthen accountability, and build greater confidence in road infrastructure and traffic management systems across Tripura.
