Jammu, Feb 24: The Jammu and Kashmir government has reported a 13.6 per cent decline in road accidents over the past three years, with incidents dropping from 6,120 in 2023 to 5,287 in 2025, officials said on Monday.
The decline is credited to stricter enforcement, widespread road safety awareness campaigns, and strengthened safety mechanisms across the Union Territory. Data show that accidents fell to 5,726 in 2024 before decreasing further in 2025.
Several initiatives were implemented in 2024 and 2025, including over 10,000 awareness programmes each year, health and eye check-ups for drivers, and first-aid training. The government also rolled out the Good Samaritan and Road Accident Victim Fund (RAVF) schemes to provide cashless treatment for victims.
Traffic enforcement agencies have fully shifted to the e-challan system. In 2024, authorities issued 40,197 e-challans, seized 429 vehicles, and suspended 2,259 driving licences. Enforcement intensified in 2025 with 52,543 e-challans issued, 1,528 vehicles seized, and 1,641 driving licences suspended. Additionally, 10,439 vehicles were blacklisted and 1,192 registration certificates cancelled in 2025.
Preventive measures included an audit of 4,545 registered school buses in 2025. Officials found 472 buses defective, of which 450 were rectified following formal notices. Similarly, 102 driving training schools were inspected, with 81 found compliant and 21 served notices. Speed-limiting devices are also being checked during vehicle fitness certification.
The road safety policy, originally notified in 2016, was revised in 2025 to align with national standards based on recommendations from the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety. To strengthen enforcement, the government procured 213 motorcycles, 19 mobile interceptor vehicles, 16 highway patrol vehicles, 23 cranes, 685 body-worn cameras, 64 breath alcohol analysers, and other traffic control infrastructure through the Road Safety Fund.
The Legal Metrology Department inspected 218 helmet sellers to ensure the sale of BIS-marked helmets, booking 69 cases and seizing 4,750 substandard helmets.
Intelligent Traffic Management Systems are now operational in Jammu and Srinagar under the Smart City Mission. A ₹107.32 crore project covering 25 junctions and 188 corridors has been planned for the rest of the Union Territory. Officials also said that road safety audits are now mandatory for new road projects.
Under the RAVF, compensation remains ₹1 lakh for death, ₹75,000 for permanent disability, ₹50,000 for grievous injury, and ₹10,000 for minor injury.
The Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) continues to provide services to remote and interstate areas. While a proposal exists for an e-bus from Jammu to Patnitop and Sudhmahadev-Mantalai, officials said it is currently “not feasible” due to limited charging infrastructure beyond Udhampur.
Currently, JKRTC operates 20 electric buses on city routes with a 100-kilometre range, and a proposal to procure 200 more electric buses under the PM e-Drive scheme is underway. (Agencies)
