World Day of Remembrance 2024 – Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Participants of World Day of Remembrance 2024 Event in Bhopal Call for Immediate Action on Over-Speeding
On the solemn occasion of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WoDR) 2024, the National Centre for Human Settlements & Environment (NCHSE), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in collaboration with Consumer Voice, New Delhi, and key local partners including Mahila Chetna Manch, Help Box Foundation, Bhopal Bicycle Riders Group, and Aadarsh Welfare Foundation, organized a powerful and poignant Cyclothon in Bhopal. The event’s central theme, “Reduce Speed, Save Lives,” served as a call to action for the immediate reduction of over-speeding on roads in Madhya Pradesh, which remains one of the leading causes of road fatalities in the region.
Expressing Solidarity and Raising Awareness
The cyclothon aimed to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in road traffic accidents while showing support for the grieving families. This collective remembrance emphasized the critical need for concerted efforts to reduce speeding and improve road safety across Madhya Pradesh. Over 100 participants, including students, citizens, and cyclists, took part in this symbolic event, spreading awareness of the dangers of over-speeding and urging immediate steps to curb the growing trend of road accidents.
Event Highlights and Support from Authorities
The event commenced at Ankur School, where Shri Avinash Shrivastava, Deputy Director of NCHSE, welcomed the participants and shared the event’s significance. He highlighted the theme of the day, emphasizing the urgent need for road safety reforms and the reduction of speed limits to save lives.
The chief guest for the event, Shri T.L. Pandro, Sub-Inspector of Traffic Police, delivered a powerful address, urging all road users to comply with traffic rules and acknowledging the severe consequences of over-speeding. He specifically mentioned how speeding, especially in populated areas, endangers everyone on the road, from pedestrians to cyclists. After his speech, he flagged off the cyclothon, which traversed key roads in Bhopal, spreading messages about road safety and responsible driving.
Throughout the Cyclothon, participants displayed various road safety messages on their bicycles, creating visible awareness in the city. These messages called for a reduction in speed limits, better law enforcement, and an overall cultural shift towards safer roads.
At the conclusion of the event, certificates of appreciation were presented to all participants, recognizing their commitment to promoting road safety and honoring the victims of traffic accidents.
A Memorandum for Immediate Action
The event culminated in a memorandum addressed to Hon’ble Transport Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary, Transport Department of Madhya Pradesh. The memorandum called for stronger, more immediate measures to combat over-speeding and to adopt the speed management guidelines proposed by IIT Kharagpur. This request is grounded in alarming statistics from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ 2022 report, which highlighted the gravity of the situation:
- A staggering 54,432 road accidents occurred in Madhya Pradesh in 2022 alone.
- These accidents led to 13,427 fatalities, with over-speeding being directly responsible for 3,247 deaths.
The memorandum urged the state authorities to take immediate action to implement these guidelines, which aim to better regulate speed limits across Madhya Pradesh and prevent further tragedies.
A Stronger Commitment for Safer Roads
The Cyclothon was not just a symbolic act but a strong call for systemic change in road safety practices and laws. The participants, through their unity and commitment, sent a clear message to the authorities: immediate action is needed to reduce road accidents, curb over-speeding, and make roads safer for everyone.
This event marked an important step in raising public awareness and putting pressure on policymakers to take responsibility for making roads safer for all citizens. As the march concluded, the call for reducing speed and saving lives resonated with all involved, reinforcing the need for consistent efforts to improve road safety measures across Madhya Pradesh.
NCHSE, Consumer Voice, and their partners remain committed to advocating for stronger traffic laws, better enforcement, and widespread public education on road safety to ensure that the future is one with fewer lives lost to preventable accidents.
A Stronger Commitment for Safer Roads
The Cyclothon was not just a symbolic act but a strong call for systemic change in road safety practices and laws. The participants, through their unity and commitment, sent a clear message to the authorities: immediate action is needed to reduce road accidents, curb over-speeding, and make roads safer for everyone.
This event marked an important step in raising public awareness and putting pressure on policymakers to take responsibility for making roads safer for all citizens. As the march concluded, the call for reducing speed and saving lives resonated with all involved, reinforcing the need for consistent efforts to improve road safety measures across Madhya Pradesh.
NCHSE, Consumer Voice, and their partners remain committed to advocating for stronger traffic laws, better enforcement, and widespread public education on road safety to ensure that the future is one with fewer lives lost to preventable accidents.