Bhubaneswar, September 7: In a major initiative to improve road safety and curb accidents caused by illegal parking on highways, the Odisha Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for the efficient management and maintenance of modern truck terminals being developed across the state.
The initiative aims to provide safe parking and better facilities for heavy vehicle drivers while reducing the risks associated with trucks being parked along highways.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Principal Secretary, Commerce & Transport Department, N. B. S. Rajput; Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur; and IOCL State Head Kamal Seal, along with IOCL DGM Sachindra Guni.
Deeptiranjan Patra, Additional Transport Commissioner (Road Safety), signed the agreement on behalf of the Transport Department, while Chiranjib Poddar, State Retail Head, signed on behalf of IOCL.
According to the department, more than 300 people are killed every year in Odisha in road crashes involving vehicles parked unsafely on roads. Long-haul truck drivers travelling across states frequently park their vehicles illegally on highways, often cooking, resting or carrying out other activities in unsafe conditions, increasing the risk of accidents.
To tackle the problem, the Commerce & Transport Department has set a target of establishing 30 truck terminals near National Highways across various districts in the first phase. Construction of 15 terminals has already been completed.
The terminals have been designed to offer essential facilities, including adequate parking spaces, driver rest areas, canteens, drinking water, vehicle repair garages, electric vehicle charging stations and other amenities.
Under the newly signed MoU, IOCL will oversee the management, operational efficiency and day-to-day maintenance of the truck terminals.
The government will encourage drivers currently parking their vehicles at hazardous locations along highways to use these dedicated facilities. The initiative is expected to provide safer and more comfortable conditions for long-distance truck drivers while helping reduce road accidents and fatalities linked to unsafe and illegal parking across Odisha.
