GANGTOK, : The valedictory function of
National Road Safety Month 2025, organized by the District Road Safety
Committee and the Transport department's Motor Vehicle Division, Gangtok, was
held today.
The
event commenced with a bike rally from the SNT premises to MG Marg, with
participation from members of the Sikkim Riders Club, students, department
staff, committee members, and representatives from animal welfare
organizations.
The
rally was flagged off by District Collector East and District Road Safety
Committee chairman, Tushar G. Nikhare.
Following
the rally, students of West Point Senior Secondary School presented a band
display at MG Marg. Thereafter, the main event was held at Manan Kendra.
National
Road Safety Month in India was observed from January 1 to January 31, 2025.
The
theme for the month was ‘Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha,’ which translates to
‘Road Safety Saves Lives.’ With the slogan ‘Be a Road Safety Hero,’ the
month-long campaign in Sikkim aimed to raise awareness about road safety and
promote safer roads for all. The initiative involved various activities and
events to unite citizens, youth, and other stakeholders.
The
district collector urged the gathering to work collectively to raise awareness
about road safety and drug abuse, especially among students.
“Drug
addiction is a vicious cycle, and students should be made aware of its dangers.
Children below the age of 18 should not drive. If they are caught, they will
only be eligible for a driving license when they turn 25. Students often
experience an adrenaline rush, but they should learn to enjoy it responsibly
and within limits. Accidents cost us precious lives,” said Nikhare.
He
further informed that focus group discussions, in collaboration with three
rehabilitation centers in Sikkim, would begin soon.
RTO
Gangtok, Dilip Sharma, in his welcome address, emphasized the importance of
road safety. Urging drivers to be responsible, he stated that 80% of accidents
occur due to driver error. “Within a year, India has witnessed over a lakh
accident casualties. The main aim of Road Safety Month is to raise awareness
through such programmes and encourage the public to be responsible citizens.
Please follow traffic rules,” he said.
Sharma
also highlighted the key aspects of the State government's road safety policy.
Dy
SP (Traffic) Bimal Gurung spoke about the importance of following traffic rules
and signals while educating drivers on road safety. He also shed light on the
introduction of advanced AI traffic monitoring in Sikkim and the importance of
wearing seat belts.
Dy
RTO Gangtok, Phurba W. Bhutia, urged attendees to keep their vehicle documents
updated.
Freedom
Rehabilitation Centre proprietor, K.C. Nima, spoke about drug abuse, while
People for Animals representative, Smriti Rai, discussed safety awareness
regarding animal cruelty.
Other
resource persons included Motor Vehicle Inspector Sonam N. Bhutia and RJ
Prabal.
The
West Point Senior Secondary School band received a cash prize of ?20,000 for their recent victory.
