Punjab Newsline,Chandigarh :
Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar inaugurates month-long awareness campaign, emphasizes strict enforcement and public participation
The Punjab government has formally launched National Road Safety Month–2026 with the objective of reducing road accidents across the state and increasing public awareness about road safety. The month-long campaign was inaugurated by Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar at an event held at Kisan Bhawan in January 2026. Addressing the gathering, the minister said that road accidents are not merely statistics but tragic incidents that affect countless families and result in the loss of valuable human lives.
The Transport Minister stressed that road safety is not the responsibility of the government or traffic police alone, but a shared responsibility of every citizen. He stated that a meaningful reduction in road accidents is possible only when the government, administration, and the general public work together and strictly follow traffic rules. He appealed to people to adopt safe road behavior and become more responsible road users.
Laljit Singh Bhullar informed that during National Road Safety Month–2026, extensive and multi-dimensional awareness programs will be organized across Punjab. These will include road safety seminars, poster and slogan competitions, quizzes, and interactive sessions in schools and colleges to educate students at an early age about the importance of traffic rules and safe driving practices.
He further stated that special training sessions will be conducted for commercial and private drivers, along with refresher courses for drivers of heavy vehicles. At the same time, strict enforcement drives will be carried out to ensure mandatory use of helmets and seat belts. Strong action will be taken against traffic violations such as using mobile phones while driving, overspeeding, and driving in the wrong direction. Highlighting drunk driving as a major cause of road accidents, the minister said special checkpoints and checking drives will be conducted throughout the state to curb this menace.
The minister also informed that based on previous accident data, engineering improvements will be undertaken at identified accident-prone black spots. These measures will include improved road signage, speed signboards, and road markings. Keeping in view the foggy winter season, the public has been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and exercise extreme caution during low-visibility conditions.
During the event, R. Venkat Ratnam, Director General, Lead Agency on Road Safety, Punjab, stated that each District Road Safety Committee has been provided financial assistance of ₹9.50 lakh under the CFDL scheme. Out of this amount, ₹1 lakh has been earmarked for the purchase of alcometers to strengthen enforcement against drunk driving, particularly for checking commercial and special category drivers. He added that departments owning roads have been allowed to immediately utilize grants for installing or repairing street lights, road markings, and other traffic safety measures during the fog season.
Director General of Police (Traffic) Amardeep Singh Rai emphasized the importance of strict enforcement to achieve the goal of zero tolerance toward traffic violations. He highlighted the positive impact of the Road Safety Force (SSF), which is currently monitoring nearly 4,000 kilometers of national and state highways daily. Since the establishment of the SSF, fatalities on these routes have reportedly reduced by nearly 50 percent, raising hopes of a significant overall decline in road accident deaths in Punjab.
State Transport Commissioner Parnit Shergill stated that the driving license issuance system has been completely reformed, making the testing process stricter and more transparent. As a result, there has been a noticeable decline in the driving test pass rate, ensuring improved driving standards across the state.
As part of the awareness activities, a motorcycle rally involving around 200 delivery personnel from platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, and Blinkit was organized near Bestech Mall in SAS Nagar (Mohali). Participants were provided with helmets, T-shirts, and caps carrying road safety messages. The rally was flagged off by R. Venkat Ratnam and DGP (Traffic) Amardeep Singh Rai, reinforcing the state’s commitment to promoting road safety awareness among high-risk road users.
The event was attended by senior officials from various departments, traffic police officers, members of the Punjab State Road Safety Council, representatives of road safety organizations, educational institutions, social organizations, and other dignitaries. The Punjab government reiterated that through National Road Safety Month–2026, it aims to effectively deliver the message of road safety to every section of society.