Concerns have been raised regarding the increasing number of accidents on Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR), leading the administration to plan a comprehensive strategy to improve commuter safety. A recent meeting chaired by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar at the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre discussed the need for proactive measures on the route, which sees a daily traffic volume of 2.8 lakh vehicles.
To address the current average of five to six daily accidents on the ORR, Sajjanar stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to bring this number down to zero. Various officials, including Transport Department Commissioner Ilambarthi and representatives from different organizations, participated in the meeting to deliberate on enhancing road safety measures.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that preventive measures could significantly reduce the number of accidents compared to reactive responses post-accidents. Suggestions were made to not only penalize traffic violators but also provide them with counseling, along with sending safety messages to commuters entering the ORR.
Analyzing accident statistics from the past four months, it was revealed that a significant percentage of accidents were due to factors like drowsiness, reckless driving, overspeeding, and tire bursts. Emphasis was placed on creating awareness among motorists to prevent such incidents and implementing data-driven safety measures, including a safety ranking system for expressways.
Transport Commissioner Ilambarthi assured that the department is actively working to minimize accidents through measures such as increased CCTV coverage, adherence to Supreme Court guidelines, and rigorous inspections of vehicle fitness and tire quality. Plans are also in place for regular review meetings specifically focused on ORR road safety.
