Bhubaneswar: Road accidents in Odisha claimed an average of 18 lives per day in 2025, marking a rise from 17 daily fatalities recorded in 2024, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena informed the State Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to a query by BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, the minister said that while fatalities increased, the average number of people injured in road accidents remained steady at around 30 per day during both years.
Providing a broader picture, Jena stated that a total of 12,625 people lost their lives and 21,576 others were injured in 25,157 road accidents reported across the state during 2024 and 2025 combined.
In 2024 alone, 6,142 fatalities and 10,770 injuries were recorded in 12,375 accidents. The figures rose in 2025, with 6,483 deaths and 10,806 injuries reported from 12,782 accidents.
Highlighting steps taken to address the issue, the minister said the state government signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Institute of Technology Madras on December 23, 2024, to strengthen road safety awareness initiatives. Under the agreement, the government has so far released ₹4.52 crore to the institute in phases.
