Khordha, Nov 6: Khordha district has emerged as one of Odisha's major road accident hotspots, with as many as 1,758 people losing their lives in road accidents over the past four-and-a-half years. Despite repeated road safety awareness campaigns by the Transport Department and the police, road accidents continue to claim lives, raising serious concerns over traffic management and road safety measures in the district.

According to statistics, around 42 per cent of road accidents in Khordha occur on National Highways (NHs). Hit-and-run cases account for 20 per cent of accidents, while illegal parking contributes to 23 per cent. Overloading of passengers and goods vehicles is responsible for 10 per cent of accidents, while poor traffic management accounts for the remaining 11 per cent.

National Highways 16 and 57 pass through Khordha district. However, the ongoing widening work on NH-57, connecting Khordha and Bolangir, remains incomplete. As a result, the road stretch from Baghamari to Khordha town is in poor condition.

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Similarly, the four-laning work on nearly 70 km of NH-16 between Khordha and Balugaon is also pending despite substantial expenditure. The incomplete construction work has made commuting difficult and raised concerns over traffic regulation. Locals allege that the police administration has failed to ensure effective traffic control on these stretches.

Although the Transport Department and police claim to be taking strict action against reckless and drunk driving, illegal liquor sales allegedly continue at hotels and roadside dhabas along both National Highways. Locals have also questioned the failure of the authorities to effectively identify and penalise drunk drivers.

Another major concern is the presence of stray cattle on National Highways. With cattle sheds becoming increasingly uncommon in rural areas, cows and bulls are often seen resting on roads, creating accident risks for motorists.

Poor road conditions, delayed construction work and pothole-ridden stretches have further added to commuters' difficulties. Despite the establishment of parking facilities at Godipada and Kuhudi on NH-16 by the Transport Department to prevent illegal parking of heavy vehicles, hundreds of trucks and other heavy vehicles continue to remain parked illegally along the highway.

According to Regional Transport Office (RTO) data, road accidents claimed 332 lives in Khordha district in 2022, 390 in 2023, 374 in 2024 and 375 in 2025. By September this year, 287 people had lost their lives in 1,028 road accidents.

Overall, 1,758 people have died in road accidents in the district over the past four-and-a-half years, highlighting the growing road safety crisis.

Local residents have alleged that road safety awareness programmes organised by the RTO and district police have failed to deliver the desired results and have become mere formalities.

Meanwhile, Assistant Transport Officer Aravind Nayak said that driving licences of 5,195 people caught for reckless driving have been cancelled. He added that enforcement drives would be intensified in the coming days.