Besides taking valuable lives, the road accidents cause an annual loss of over Rs1,500 crore in Odisha, economists observing such disasters have said.
What is worrisome is little execution of laws of the capable Motor Vehicle Act of the State. While huge amounts are being spent every year for holding Road Safety Week to make people aware of the road safety, the Government does not give importance on execution of laws, alleged Odisha Mada Mukti Abhiyan (OMMA) Convener Pramila Swain.
The percentage of casualties due to road mishaps in the State can be reduced to over 50 per cent if Excise, Transport and police administration take coordinated efforts, she opined.
Over a lakh of road accidents were registered in Odisha during the past 12 years in which over 40,000 people died and over 50,000 were seriously injured.
Of road the accidents taking place across the State, around 60 per cent are occurring due to alcohol consumption and 30 per cent for uncontrolled driving, sources said.
According to the official statistics, at least 24,000 people have died in the road accidents during the past 12 years in the State due to consumption of liquor and around 30,000 turned physically-disabled.
Besides, the accidents have caused loss properties worth crores of rupees.
The statistics said 4,303 persons died in the road mishaps during 2015 and the number increased in 2016.
Most of the accidents are occurring due to liquor consumption and careless driving, the OMMA alleged.