Maharashtra Road Safety Body Inactive For 2 Years? Minister Says Unaware Of Its ‘Existence’

Last Updated:June 08, 2025, 20:17 is

The council, mandated to meet biannually under Rule 215 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, last held a session on April 3, 2023.

Maharashtra recorded over 83,800 road accidents and 36,567 fatalities between January 2023 and April 2025, yet the State Road Safety Council — a statutory body responsible for monitoring and implementing road safety measures — has not convened a single meeting in the past two years, said officials.

The council, mandated to meet biannually under Rule 215 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, last held a session on April 3, 2023. Since its inception in 2015, only 12 meetings have been conducted, instead of the 20 required by law.

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who currently chairs the council, said he was unaware of its existence and promised to convene a meeting soon, reported news agency PTI.

The portfolio was previously held by Eknath Shinde when he served as Chief Minister and Transport Minister in 2023.

Officials said the council plays a critical role in reviewing accident data, identifying and eliminating black spots, coordinating interdepartmental efforts, and shaping road safety policy. However, the lack of meetings since 2023 is being seen as administrative apathy in the face of increasing casualties.

Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, the council’s member-secretary, attributed the delay to the model code of conduct enforced during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. He added that while the council did not meet, other high-level discussions on road safety were held.

Experts argue that statutory bodies like the council must function consistently, regardless of election timelines. They have called for the revival and strengthening of the 2018 state road safety action plan, with clear departmental targets and dedicated budgets, to meet national goals of halving road deaths by 2030.

Maharashtra, which has over four crore registered vehicles, continues to report more than 35,000 accidents and 15,000 deaths annually — a grim statistic that has remained largely unchanged in recent years.

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