Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Saturday addressed a Road Safety Awareness Programme organised under the ongoing Seva Pakhwada at Atal Path, Bhopal, where 2,100 free helmets were distributed to young two-wheeler riders. Emphasising the importance of helmet use, the Chief Minister called it the ‘protective shield of life’, urging citizens to act responsibly on roads to safeguard themselves and their families.

 

Dr Yadav stated that road accidents remain the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the country, often due to overspeeding, not wearing helmets or seat belts. He underlined the need for citizens to take a pledge to always wear helmets while riding two-wheelers and follow all traffic norms. The CM flagged off a two-wheeler awareness rally and symbolically presented helmets to five youth participants, Manoj Nigam, Sandeep Bisen, Sumit Pradhan, NCC Cadet Sanya Siddiqui, and Anjali Singh – promoting the message of self-protection.

 

Highlighting Government initiatives, Dr Yadav mentioned that digital tools like speed guns, Fastag monitoring, and patrol units are being deployed to reduce accidents on highways and expressways. Under the Rahveer Yojana, citizens who help accident victims receive a Rs 25,000 incentive.

 

Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinaryanachari Mishra shared that 37 city intersections are being made left-turn free to ease traffic. He reported that in 2024, over 1.8 lakh lives were lost and 3 lakh injured in road accidents across the country, reinforcing the urgency for road discipline.

 

The event also saw the presence of Minister Krishna Gaur, MLAs Rameshwar Sharma and Bhagwandas Sabnani, Bhopal Municipal Corporation Chairman Kishan Suryavanshi, and a large gathering of youth, police officials, and public representatives. The State’s Dial-112 emergency response service, backed by 1,200 tech-enabled vehicles, was also highlighted as a critical support system for road safety and quick assistance.