Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has highlighted that the state’s road accident rate remains significantly below the national average, reflecting effective traffic enforcement and awareness measures. However, he urged citizens and departments to remain vigilant to ensure that fatalities and injuries are further minimised in coming years.
Addressing the Road Safety Stakeholders Meet
Speaking at a road safety stakeholders’ meeting organised at Pragya Bhavan in Agartala on Tuesday, CM Saha cited the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report which places Tripura among the states with the lowest number of road accidents per lakh population in India.
“While Tripura’s accident rate is comparatively low, every life lost on the road is a tragedy. We must not become complacent. Strict enforcement, responsible driving, and public awareness campaigns must continue with renewed focus,” he said.
Road Accident Data: Tripura vs National Figures
According to the NCRB 2023 data:
| State | Accidents per lakh population | Fatalities per lakh population |
|---|---|---|
| Tripura | 12.4 | 3.1 |
| National Avg | 25.5 | 7.2 |
| Highest (Tamil Nadu) | 36.8 | 8.9 |
(Compiled from NCRB ‘Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2023’ report)
District-wise Accident Analysis in Tripura (2023)
| District | Total Accidents | Fatalities | Major Causes |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Tripura | 152 | 37 | Overspeeding, rash driving |
| Sepahijala | 90 | 21 | Two-wheeler skids, drunk driving |
| Gomati | 85 | 18 | Sharp turns, poor lighting |
| South Tripura | 78 | 17 | Pedestrian negligence |
| North Tripura | 62 | 12 | Road condition, overloaded vehicles |
| Dhalai | 54 | 9 | Hillside accidents |
| Khowai | 43 | 8 | Wrong-side driving |
| Unakoti | 38 | 6 | Skidding, fatigue driving |
CM Saha’s Key Directives for Road Safety Enhancement
During the meeting attended by PWD, Traffic Police, Transport Department, Health Department, and education sector officials, CM Saha outlined the following action points:
- Zero Tolerance Enforcement: Strict challans for overspeeding, helmetless riding, and drunk driving.
- Road Audit & Repair: Rapid repair of accident-prone road stretches identified by district collectors.
- Awareness Drives: Monthly road safety campaigns in schools, colleges, and marketplaces.
- Emergency Response: Strengthening the golden hour response system with better ambulance placement and trauma care training for first responders.
- Technology Integration: Installation of speed cameras and AI-enabled traffic monitoring in Agartala and highway junctions.
Recent Initiatives By Tripura Government
- Traffic Sentinel Programme: Encouraging citizens to report violations with incentives for verified reports.
- School Road Safety Clubs: Integrated under the ‘Safe Tripura, Safe Roads’ mission to instil safety habits from childhood.
- Helmet Distribution Drives: Over 15,000 helmets distributed to two-wheeler riders from economically weaker sections in 2023-24.
- Driver Refresher Training: Compulsory biannual training sessions for public transport and heavy vehicle drivers.
Expert Opinions on Tripura’s Road Safety Performance
Traffic and road safety experts attribute Tripura’s lower accident rates to:
- Less vehicular congestion compared to metro cities.
- Strict state-level enforcement of helmet and seatbelt rules.
- Active public-private road safety partnership models.
However, they warned against complacency, especially with increasing vehicle registrations in the state post-COVID economic recovery.
Growing Vehicle Population in Tripura
| Year | Registered Vehicles |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4.8 lakh |
| 2020 | 5.3 lakh |
| 2022 | 6.1 lakh |
| 2024 | 6.7 lakh (estimated) |
(Source: Tripura Transport Department annual reports)
Challenges Ahead
Despite improvements, certain challenges persist:
- Road Infrastructure: Narrow roads in rural and hilly districts leading to skidding accidents.
- Night Visibility: Poor lighting in highways and absence of reflective signage.
- Driver Behaviour: Continued rash driving by youth, ignoring lane discipline and speed limits.
- Two-wheeler Vulnerability: Almost 65% of fatalities involve two-wheeler riders.
Voices From Ground
During the stakeholder meet, West Tripura Traffic SP Debasish Saha noted:
“Helmet compliance in Agartala is over 95% now, but we need to replicate this in semi-urban and rural areas.”
Health Department representatives highlighted the urgent need to train ASHA workers and PHC staff in trauma response as first medical responders in remote areas.
Role of Educational Institutions
The Education Department announced plans to include road safety awareness modules under Life Skills Education from Class VI onwards, as proposed in the National Road Safety Policy guidelines.
National Context: Road Accident Fatalities in India
According to the NCRB, India recorded 1,68,491 road accident deaths in 2023, a marginal increase over 2022. Overspeeding accounted for 60% of these deaths, while non-use of helmets caused 43% of two-wheeler fatalities nationwide.
CM Saha’s Concluding Remarks
“Our government is committed to making Tripura roads among the safest in India. But enforcement alone cannot solve this. Every citizen has to drive responsibly, follow rules, and respect fellow road users. Only then will we achieve a true ‘Accident-Free Tripura’.”
Upcoming Road Safety Week
The Transport Department announced that Road Safety Week 2025 will be observed from July 17-23, focusing on:
- Speeding awareness.
- Emergency care demonstrations.
- Rewarding villages with highest helmet compliance.
- School-level street plays and rallies on ‘Safe Driving Saves Lives’.
Conclusion
Tripura’s road accident rate being lower than the national average is a testament to policy effectiveness and citizen cooperation. However, with vehicle density increasing rapidly, CM Saha’s call for sustained vigilance and behavioural change campaigns gains urgency to ensure roads remain safe for every commuter, rider, and pedestrian across the state.
Disclaimer: This report is based on government statements, NCRB data, and inputs from road safety experts. Readers are advised to follow local traffic advisories and official notifications for up-to-date enforcement measures and awareness programmes.
