Telangana Launches Pioneering Child-Focused Road Safety Initiative

Hyderabad — The Telangana government has rolled out a comprehensive road safety action plan with a specific focus on protecting children and young people from traffic-related incidents.

The Transport Department convened the inaugural state-level consultation for the Road Safety Action Plan for Children 2030 in Hyderabad, with officials highlighting this as among the nation's first dedicated efforts to address child safety on roads. Transport Commissioner K. Ilambarithi presided over the meeting, which brought together stakeholders from multiple sectors.

The initiative received joint backing from PHFI-IPHS Deemed University and UNICEF. Senior representatives from transport, police, education, health, municipal administration, Roads and Buildings, HMDA, GHMC and NHAI departments attended the consultation alongside participants from educational institutions.

Road accidents have emerged as a significant threat to children's safety and wellbeing. National data from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recorded nearly 10,000 child deaths in road accidents across India during 2023. In Telangana specifically, 7,281 road accident fatalities were documented in 2024, with child deaths remaining a concern among these figures.

The action plan targets a 50 per cent reduction in accident-related deaths and injuries, bringing Telangana in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety objectives. According to Transport Commissioner Ilambarithi, creating safer roads for children would elevate safety standards across all demographics. He outlined that the government would develop a detailed action plan following consultations with departments serving urban, rural and tribal communities.

The state has set its sights on becoming a leader in road safety governance nationally.

During the consultation, participants deliberated on multiple aspects of road safety, including the establishment of secure school zones, development of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, enhancement of traffic enforcement mechanisms and implementation of speed control measures. The discussions also covered addressing road infrastructure shortcomings, eliminating accident-prone locations and strengthening emergency medical response capabilities.

The Transport Department intends to establish a structured framework for execution, complete with defined timelines and clear institutional accountability measures.