Bhubaneswar, May 21: BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra met Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, to highlight the rising number of fatal accidents along the Khandagiri–Palasuni stretch of NH-16 in Bhubaneswar and seek immediate safety interventions.
During the meeting, Patra drew attention to the alarming frequency of traffic accidents, reckless driving incidents, and pedestrian fatalities on this critical urban highway, which connects Odisha to neighbouring states. He cited multiple tragic incidents over the past year near Khandagiri, Patrapada, Aiginia, Rasulgarh, and Palasuni, involving speeding vehicles, hit-and-run cases, and street racing, which have raised widespread public concern.
Patra stressed that these recurring accidents point to serious gaps in traffic enforcement, surveillance, pedestrian safety, and highway management. He urged urgent corrective and preventive measures to safeguard commuters, residents, students, and office-goers.
The memorandum submitted to the Union Minister proposed the following measures:
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Patra said,
“The repeated loss of innocent lives on NH-16’s Khandagiri–Palasuni stretch is deeply distressing. Citizens deserve safer roads, robust monitoring systems, and modern traffic management infrastructure. Immediate action is crucial to prevent further tragedies.”
Patra called on the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, NHAI, and other authorities to prioritize the issue for the sake of public safety and urban mobility. The Union Minister assured that the concerns would be taken seriously and appropriate measures would be considered in coordination with relevant agencies.
