Nuapada Tightens Road Safety Measures; Heavy Vehicle Entry Restricted During Peak Hours

Nuapada, Aug 20: In a major push to improve road safety and reduce accidents, the District Road Safety Committee (DRSC) held a crucial meeting at the district headquarters conference hall under the chairmanship of Collector Madhusudan Dash on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed several key issues, including road accident prevention, illegal parking, regulation of heavy vehicles, helmet compliance and strengthening safety measures at accident-prone locations. One of the major decisions was to restrict the entry of heavy vehicles into Nuapada, Khariar Road and Khariar NAC areas during peak hours. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter these urban areas from 7 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 7 pm, with the aim of reducing traffic congestion and the risk of accidents. The Collector also directed Nuapada, Khariar Road and Khariar NAC authorities to arrange cranes for the immediate removal of vehicles parked illegally along roads. The concerned Executive Officers have been instructed to complete the procurement process for the cranes by September 15. Special attention was given to the Biju Expressway, particularly locations where diversions are in place. The Collector stressed the need to strengthen road safety measures at such points and complete repair works at the earliest to prevent accidents. According to data presented at the meeting, between January 2026 and August 20, a total of 3,812 challans were issued for riding or driving without helmets. During the same period, 170 challans were issued for driving under the influence of alcohol. In June 2026 alone, 464 e-challans were issued for various traffic violations, including 167 cases of driving without helmets, 66 cases of overspeeding, six cases of carrying passengers in goods vehicles and four cases of overloading. A total fine of ₹15,51,565 was collected from 401 e-challan cases during the month. The meeting also reviewed the functioning of Helmet Hubs across the district. Discussions were held on regular inspections, availability of first-aid boxes, levelling of paver-block areas and construction of a permanent roof at the Helmet Hub near Panigrahi Petrol Pump. Regular field inspections of the Helmet Hubs by Khariar Road and Khariar NAC authorities were also highlighted. Strict implementation of the “No Helmet–No Petrol” rule was another major focus. The RTO enforcement team will conduct regular inspections at petrol pumps to ensure compliance with the provision. At the beginning of the meeting, Superintending Engineer, R&B, Khariar, Shashank Shekhar Shukla, welcomed the participants and presented the compliance report on decisions taken at the previous DRSC meeting along with the agenda for the current meeting. Additional Collector Subash Chandra Rait, Chief Development Officer, Zilla Parishad Lambodar Dharua, Sub-Collector Surmi Soren, Additional District Medical Officer Dr. Umakanta Meher, Excise Superintendent Sanghamitra Pradhan, R&B SDO Sukanta Gardia, MVI Upendra Pushika, Executive Officers of Nuapada, Khariar and Khariar Road NACs, along with officials from various departments, attended the meeting. The decisions taken at the meeting are expected to strengthen traffic discipline, improve enforcement and create safer roads for commuters across Nuapada district.