Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, urging him to personally intervene to address what he termed a serious road safety challenge in Goa as well as across the country.
The communication comes ahead of National Road Safety Month in January and stresses the need for swift adoption of zero-fatality strategies, particularly along accident-prone stretches.
Gadkari has called for scientific crash analysis, better use of data, and immediate upgrades in road design, signage, lane markings, and the installation of protective barriers at vulnerable locations.
The letter gains significance in light of Goa’s alarming accident figures. During October 2025, the State recorded around 200 road accidents, resulting in 18 deaths and more than 100 injuries.
Data shows that North Goa accounted for 96 accidents, including eight fatal incidents that claimed nine lives. South Goa, meanwhile, reported 104 accidents with nine deaths during the same period. Earlier figures from April 2025 revealed a similarly troubling trend, with 198 accidents across both districts leading to 26 fatalities.
Monthly reports released by the Directorate of Transport have repeatedly flagged a high number of deaths and serious injuries, indicating persistent shortcomings in traffic enforcement and road infrastructure.
Despite ongoing alerts, authorities and allied departments have failed to act decisively on safety lapses. Deteriorating road conditions, insufficient signage, and poor implementation of traffic regulations continue to pose risks to commuters.
Further compounding the issue is the State’s non-compliance with Supreme Court-mandated road safety mechanisms. The apex court’s Committee on Road Safety, set up in 2014, had directed all States to establish District Road Safety Committees chaired by District Collectors and involving Members of Parliament.
These panels are expected to meet regularly to review accident blackspots and suggest remedial steps. While South Goa has reportedly convened a few such meetings, the North Goa committee has allegedly not met at all, raising concerns over disregard for court directives.
