Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off 27 police motorcycles from his official residence, Oak Over, to bolster road safety measures in the state. Of these, 14 motorcycles have been allocated to the Kangra district police, while the remaining 13 have been assigned to the Mandi district police.
In addition to these motorcycles, the government has sanctioned 42 four-wheelers, 14 interceptor vehicles, and 10 wrecker vehicles for rescue operations. These vehicles will be distributed among the police districts of Shimla, Nurpur, Mandi, and Kangra to enhance road safety enforcement and emergency response capabilities.
A budget of Rs. 90 crore has been earmarked for the procurement of 3,373 road safety equipment for these four police districts. Out of this, over 1,200 pieces of equipment have already been provided to the police department at a cost of Rs. 5.71 crore.
Furthermore, Rs. 60 crore has been allocated to establish an integrated road safety enforcement system in Shimla. This system will be linked to over 450 AI-based speed and surveillance cameras installed across Shimla, Kangra, and Mandi districts, facilitating a transition to digital traffic monitoring in the state.
To further improve road safety, a Mass Action Plan has been developed with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 34.66 crore. This initiative aims to enhance safety on 20 per cent of the most accident-prone link roads in Shimla district, with collaborative efforts from the Public Works Department and other related agencies.
Additionally, a Good Samaritan Law awareness program is being conducted in seven districts to promote road safety. As part of this initiative, over 300 police and home guard personnel have received training in basic life support techniques, while more than 200 police officers have undergone advanced training in traffic safety enforcement and road accident investigation.
For the first time, an International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) survey has been conducted for approximately 7,500 kilometers of roads in Himachal Pradesh. Based on the survey’s findings, roads have been rated according to safety standards.
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A comprehensive 10-year Safe Road Investment Plan, with an estimated budget of Rs. 3,200 crore, has been formulated, bringing together the Public Works Department, Transport Department, and other relevant agencies to enhance road safety infrastructure.
As a result of the state government’s initiatives over the past two years, a significant decline in road accidents and casualties has been recorded. In 2023, Himachal Pradesh reported 2,253 accidents, whereas in 2024, the number reduced to 2,107—a 6.48% decrease.
Fatalities also declined from 892 in 2023 to 806 in 2024. These improvements highlight the state government's commitment to implementing effective road safety measures.
The flagging-off event was attended by key officials, including PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Surender Chauhan, Additional Chief Secretary KK Pant, Director General of Police Atul Verma, and other senior department officials.
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