Road accidents claim more lives in state annually than corona in state: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that road safety remains a serious challenge for the state, as more people die in road accidents every year than the number of lives lost during the three years of the Corona pandemic.

“Most of the deaths in road accidents are of young people, which ruins families. This is a matter of concern for both society and the government,” he said.

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On Saturday, the Chief Minister launched, digitally inaugurated, and laid the foundation stone for various services of the Transport Department. He stressed that the safety of every person walking or traveling on the road is the responsibility of the department.

“If a passenger’s life is saved, it creates a positive image of the department. But if a life is lost due to negligence, not only does the department’s reputation suffer, it also causes financial loss,” he said.

The Chief Minister directed that bus drivers must undergo compulsory medical and physical fitness tests every three months, with special emphasis on eye check-ups to prevent accidents caused by poor vision. He added that driving cannot be allowed on the basis of guesswork.

Congratulating the department, he said the Transport Department is the largest means of public transport in the state and must become the “charioteer” of the vision of a developed India.

Yogi Adityanath said the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has the largest fleet in the country. While providing such a large number of services is an achievement in itself, he noted that the challenges are equally significant. He praised the initiative of providing free bus travel to women for three days on Raksha Bandhan and urged the department to promote such services more effectively in the future.

The Chief Minister said that if any person, society, or nation lags behind the pace of time, it remains behind forever. “But if it has the ability to move two steps ahead of time, then the flag of Vijayshree (victory) flies,” he said.

He called upon the Transport Department to prepare short-term (3 year period), medium-term (10 year period), and long-term (22 year period) plans.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the department’s significant contributions during major events. During the Prayagraj Kumbh in 2019 and the global pandemic in 2020, when millions of workers and laborers were returning to their villages, the department played a vital role in transporting migrants safely not only within Uttar Pradesh but also to states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand. Similarly, during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh this year, the department managed crowds at railway stations and other points and ensured safe travel for crores of devotees. “In every hour of crisis, the Transport Department has served the state and society as a true partner of time,” he said.

Yogi Adityanath stressed that the department must modernize and remain competitive in line with present-day needs. Bus stations should be equipped with world-class facilities, buses should not be parked haphazardly on roads, and passengers must be provided a clean and safe environment, he said.

He added that better travel experiences can be combined with environmental protection through electric bus services, with private sector participation in setting up charging stations. He also emphasized scrapping old vehicles to reduce pollution and accidents.