The Maharashtra government has unveiled plans to set up 60 ‘Traffic Gardens’ across the state to address the increasing road accidents and educate youngsters about traffic regulations. These gardens, dedicated to the late Shiv Sena leader Dharmaveer Anand Dighe, will cover about one acre each, with an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore per garden. The initiative aims to enhance awareness of traffic rules among children by offering practical road safety lessons through model roads, zebra crossings, traffic signals, and miniature vehicle replicas.
State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik introduced the comprehensive proposal developed by the Transport Department. The objective is to have at least one traffic garden in every district, serving as educational and recreational hubs. These gardens will not only provide driving license training tracks but also showcase rare tree species from around the country, emphasizing environmental conservation. Additionally, they will feature information on electric vehicles to prepare the youth for future transportation trends.
Minister Sarnaik highlighted that schools will have designated time slots for group visits, while the general public can access the parks for a nominal fee managed by local municipal bodies. He expressed confidence that this initiative will significantly contribute to enhancing road safety in Maharashtra by fostering responsible drivers among citizens of all ages. The integration of traffic education with environmental awareness is expected to transform these ‘Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Traffic Gardens’ into knowledge and leisure centers for the community.
A 100-day enforcement campaign is currently in progress across all 59 Regional Transport Offices in the state, as announced by Minister Sarnaik. The initiative targets illegal share-autos and vehicles operating without valid permits through direct roadside inspections. Stringent actions, including filing First Information Reports for severe violations, will be taken against individuals displaying non-compliance or arrogance towards permit regulations and language requirements, with a focus on Marathi communication skills.
