Bhubaneswar: Odisha has reported 27,167 road accident deaths over the past five years, averaging more than 5,400 fatalities annually, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena informed the State Assembly on Thursday.
In a written reply, the minister said the state witnessed 56,830 road accidents between 2020 and 2024, which left 50,041 people injured, including 19,850 with grievous injuries. Except for 2020—the Covid lockdown year, when 4,738 people died in 9,817 crashes—annual fatalities remained above 5,000 and continued to climb.
The data shows that Odisha recorded 5,081 deaths in 2021, 5,467 in 2022, and 5,739 in 2023. Fatalities surged to a five-year high in 2024, with 6,142 people losing their lives in 12,375 accidents. The information was provided in response to a question from Jharsuguda BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy.
Jena also stated that the government spent ₹89.73 crore on road safety measures between 2020-21 and 2024-25. During the same period, ₹23.17 crore was disbursed as financial assistance to accident victims under the Solatium Fund Scheme.
To curb the rising number of accidents, the state government has undertaken several initiatives, including large-scale public awareness campaigns and refresher training for heavy vehicle drivers. A standard operating procedure has also been issued to prevent mishaps during the picnic season, and 23 truck terminals have been established along national and state highways. The government is further providing free tea to heavy vehicle drivers at night to reduce drowsy driving incidents.
Additionally, an Intelligent Enforcement Management System has been installed on major highway stretches, and a Ghat Warning System is now operational on key ghat roads. The state has also deployed 37 interceptors and 38 highway patrol vehicles to strengthen enforcement and act against traffic violators, Jena informed the House.
