Maharashtra road safety council hasn't met in 2 years despite 36000 deaths; Transport Minister unaware of its existence

The wreckage of an automobile that rammed into a bus stop in Worli on December 22, 2024. Pic/Shadab Khan

Despite Maharashtra witnessing 36,567 fatalities and 83,820 road accidents between January 2023 and April 2025, a top road safety council headed by the state transport minister has not met even once in two years, officials said on Sunday.

Such is the situation that Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said he was not even aware of the existence of the State Road Safety Council. The last meeting of the State Road Safety Council was held on April 4, 2023, under Eknath Shinde, the current deputy chief minister. He was the chief minister at the time and held the transport portfolio, these officials said.

After the Maharashtra government constituted the council as per rule 215 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules in May 2015, biannual meetings, which are mandatory, were held regularly till 2019, following which only four meetings took place till 2023, they pointed out. From 2015, there should have been 20 meetings of the State Road Safety Council as per the rules, but only 12 have taken place, a senior official said on the condition
of anonymity.

As per officials, the council mainly reviews accident data, monitors the implementation of safety measures and issues policy directives, adding that it is a crucial platform for the eradication of black spots, assesses enforcement gaps, and coordinates between various departments.

Its complete inaction reflects administrative apathy, a retired RTO official said. "I am unaware of the existence of the State Road Safety Council. It is unfortunate that my department did not even inform me about such an important body. I will convene a meeting of this council in June itself," Sarnaik, when contacted, told PTI.

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