In a decisive move prompted by the Supreme Court's stern observations, the Maharashtra government has rolled out an intensive, state-wide operation to tackle the menace of stray animals on highways, a major cause of fatal road accidents.
State-Wide Crackdown Ordered
The action was formalized through a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Public Works Department on January 2. The directive mandates a coordinated effort across multiple agencies, including municipal corporations, district administrations, the transport and police departments, the PWD, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The core directive is the launch of a special campaign to first identify all accident-prone and sensitive stretches on national highways, state highways, and expressways. Authorities have been instructed to immediately clear these vulnerable zones of stray and roaming animals and relocate them to designated shelters.
24x7 Vigilance and Accountability
To ensure constant monitoring, district road safety committees have been tasked with forming dedicated highway patrol teams. These teams will operate round-the-clock, working in sync with local police stations, animal husbandry officers, and local governing bodies. Regular inspections and swift action are mandatory to prevent animals from re-entering highway stretches.
The government has placed clear accountability on senior officials, including district collectors and heads of road safety committees, for strict implementation. Monthly compliance reports detailing actions taken under this campaign must be submitted to nodal authorities.
Strengthening Emergency Response
A key part of the GR focuses on improving emergency mechanisms. It mandates the prominent display and wide publicity of helpline numbers at regular intervals along all highways. The key numbers are NHAI's 1033 and the state emergency number 112.
These helplines will be directly linked to local police, highway authorities, and district control rooms. This integration aims to enable immediate reporting of stray animal sightings or accidents and ensure a rapid, coordinated response to save lives and prevent further incidents.
This comprehensive crackdown underscores the state's urgent response to judicial pressure and its commitment to making Maharashtra's highways safer for all travelers.
