Goa Khabar : Goa has the potential to become the first state in India to achieve zero road accident fatalities, according to retired Supreme Court Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre. Speaking at a special high-level review meeting on road safety at the Secretariat in Porvorim on July 16, 2026, Justice Sapre, who chairs the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, urged state departments to work in close coordination to protect precious lives.
During the meeting, Transport Secretary Maheshkumar Shambhu presented a detailed report on Goa’s current road safety scenario and the safety measures already implemented by the state government. Justice Sapre emphasized that achieving zero fatalities requires a joint effort from both administrators and the public. He called on citizens to wear proper safety gear and strictly obey traffic laws, while suggesting that Goa adopt AI-enabled traffic management systems—similar to those used in developed nations—to curb accidents.
Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, a member of the Supreme Court Committee, also addressed the officials, noting that road safety is a “divine and collective responsibility.” He instructed state authorities to actively use the central government’s i-RAD (Integrated Road Accident Database) and e-DAR (Detailed Accident Report) platforms. By tracking and analyzing accident data through these systems, the state can design highly targeted strategies to prevent future mishaps.
The committee also praised the Goa Health Department for the swift response times of its ambulance services. Justice Sapre encouraged them to refine their response times even further to ensure accident victims receive life-saving medical care during the critical “Golden Hour” immediately following a crash.
The meeting, which was welcomed by Chief Secretary Dr. V. Candavelou and attended by top officials from the police, transport, health, and highway departments, concluded with a directive from the Chief Secretary. Dr. Candavelou ordered all departments to immediately coordinate their efforts to drastically reduce accidents and make Goa’s zero-fatality goal a reality.
