New Delhi, June 24: Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla held a crucial meeting at his parliamentary office on Wednesday to strengthen road safety in his constituency. The meeting included representatives from the ‘Save Life Foundation,’ aiming to effectively implement the ‘Zero Fatality District Program’ in the Kota-Bundi area. The goal is to minimize deaths from road accidents and work towards achieving a long-term zero fatality rate.
During the meeting, Speaker Om Birla expressed deep concern over the rising fatalities in road accidents, particularly among youth. He noted that these tragedies not only cause irreparable loss to families but also diminish the nation’s productive capacity. He emphasized that road safety is not merely an administrative issue but a social responsibility that needs to be transformed into a public movement.
“Our aim is not just to reduce road accidents but to develop the Kota-Bundi parliamentary area into an ideal ‘Zero Fatality Model,'” he stated. He added that with coordinated efforts, deaths from road accidents could be reduced by up to 70% in the coming years, bringing the figure closer to zero.
The meeting discussed a detailed study and data presented by the Save Life Foundation. The foundation reported that over 400 people die annually in road accidents in the Kota-Bundi region. The study identified 21 high-risk road corridors responsible for nearly 50% of accident-related fatalities.
Additionally, 19 locations were pinpointed where repeated traffic violations account for about 25% of deaths. Twelve extremely sensitive pedestrian accident sites were also identified, where around 20% of fatalities occur. The foundation noted that 25 out of approximately 60 police station areas in the Kota-Bundi region report about 80% of total road accident deaths. Reckless driving, such as speeding and dangerous overtaking, is a leading cause of about 24% of these fatalities.
The meeting highlighted a positive trend, noting a decrease in road accidents in the Kota-Bundi area in 2025 compared to 2024, indicating the effectiveness of road safety measures. However, it was acknowledged that more comprehensive and institutional efforts are necessary.
Discussions included separate action plans for the National Highways Authority (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD), urban local bodies, police, transport, and health departments. Key topics included engineering improvements at accident-prone sites, road safety audits, on-site inspections, traffic management, signage systems, black spot remediation, pedestrian safety, and strengthening local institutional partnerships. The safety of school children near highways was also a significant concern.
The meeting emphasized the need for rapid medical assistance post-accident. Strategies were discussed to reduce the time taken to transport victims to hospitals, enhance ambulance services, and strengthen trauma care systems.
Speaker Om Birla urged for maximum utilization of existing command and control centers in Kota to bolster road safety measures. He advocated for the adoption of AI-based monitoring systems, ensuring 24-hour surveillance through CCTV cameras on major highways and sensitive locations.
He stressed the importance of promptly identifying and warning drivers who violate traffic rules, speed excessively, or overtake dangerously. Technology-based monitoring could significantly enhance road safety.
Birla concluded that preventing road accidents requires collaboration not only from the government but also from administration, social organizations, expert groups, and citizens. He expressed confidence that through coordinated efforts and a scientific approach, Kota-Bundi could become the country’s first ideal ‘Zero Fatality Parliamentary Area.’
The meeting was attended by officials from the Save Life Foundation and Rajesh Goyal, OSD to the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
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