Mumbai: Maharashtra’s roads have become a scene of tragic neglect, with a staggering 83,800 road accidents and 36,567 fatalities reported between January 2023 and April 2025.
This grim reality is further compounded by the shocking revelation that the State Road Safety Council, the very body mandated to address this crisis, has remained dormant for two years. This critical oversight has left a trail of devastation in the financial capital of the country and other cities of the state.
The Council, legally obligated to convene biannually under Rule 215 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, last met on April 3, 2023. In its nearly decade-long existence since 2015, only 12 meetings have been conducted, falling significantly short of the required 20.
This alarming inertia is particularly concerning given that the Council plays a crucial role in analysing accident data, identifying dangerous spots, coordinating government efforts, and shaping vital road safety policies.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, the current Council chair, recently admitted to being unaware of the Council’s existence, though he promised to promptly schedule a meeting.
The portfolio was previously held by Eknath Shinde during his time as Chief Minister and Transport Minister in 2023. Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, the Council’s member-secretary, attempted to justify the inactivity by citing the model code of conduct during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
While acknowledging the lack of Council meetings, he claimed other high-level discussions on road safety occurred. However, experts contend that statutory bodies like the Road Safety Council must function consistently, irrespective of election cycles.
The urgent need for action is undeniable. Maharashtra, with over 40 million registered vehicles, consistently records more than 35,000 accidents and 15,000 deaths annually, a grim statistic that has stubbornly remained unchanged for years
Experts are calling for the revival and strengthening of the 2018 state road safety action plan, including the establishment of clear departmental targets and dedicated budgets.
