Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has on Sunday directed law enforcement agencies to prepare a detailed report on liquor shops located within 100 metres of national highways, with the aim of relocating them to reduce fatal road accidents caused by drunken driving.
The directive comes after Tripura recorded 1,340 deaths and 3,724 injuries in 3,307 road accidents over the past six years.
Saha noted that while the number of accidents appears lower in relation to the state’s 7,87,203 registered vehicles, there is an urgent need for police and other agencies to intensify efforts to reduce fatal mishaps.
Speaking at a road safety programme, Saha said that alcohol consumption remains a major factor in road accidents.
"Prepare a comprehensive report on the liquor shops functioning within 100 metres of national highways, and the government will take steps to shift these outlets," he told senior officials.
The Supreme Court, in December 2017, had prohibited the sale of alcohol within 500 metres of the outer edge of national and state highways.
However, this limit was reduced to 220 metres in areas with populations of 20,000 or less. Tripura's move to enforce a stricter 100-metre limit aims to further curb accidents caused by drunken driving.
The chief minister also urged the police to strictly enforce seatbelt rules, highlighting that compliance is currently low across the state.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, present at the event, emphasised the need for greater public awareness to prevent accidents.
“Tripura witnesses 700 to 750 road accidents each year, with 200 to 250 deaths. Many fatalities are due to not wearing helmets. We are employing modern equipment to address these issues, but awareness is crucial,” he said.
With over five lakh two-wheelers among the 7,87,203 vehicles on Tripura’s roads, Chowdhury stressed the importance of following road safety measures to bring down the accident rate.
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