Staff reporter
Guwahati: In a bid to promote an accident-free Assam, the Transport Department launched a large-scale road safety awareness campaign during the Bohag Bihu festivities, reaching over 50,000 people across more than 20 major Bihu stages. Spearheaded by Special Duty Officer of Transport department Gautam Das, the initiative creatively blended cultural performances with crucial road safety messaging.
The campaign, aligned with state road safety guidelines, transformed traditional Bihu platforms into vibrant stages for public education. In Kamrup (M) district alone, programmes were held at key venues such as Hengerabari Sarbojonin Rangali Bihu, Ganeshguri Rangali Bihu, Panjabari Bagharbari Bihu Sammilani, Narengi Kenduguri Rangali Bihu, and others. Audiences were engaged through specially crafted awareness songs, plays, and Bihu dances, complemented by timeless compositions of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, ensuring the messages struck a cultural chord.
Promoted under the slogan, “Let us all celebrate Bihu by adhering to the five road safety pledges,” the campaign is extended to more than 100 Bihu stages across and around the city. Officer Das, while inaugurating several events, emphasized the importance of road safety as a civic responsibility. “Awareness ensures safety,” he remarked, urging people to adopt traffic rules as a matter of daily discipline. Quoting the proverb “Habits shape destiny, negligence destroys it,” he called for a cultural shift toward safer roads.
Das also highlighted the broader social and economic impact of road accidents, stating that every fatality represents not just a personal loss, but a setback for the community and the state’s development. He appealed to the public to support Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s vision of an accident-free Assam by committing to safe driving practices.
Key messages included the mandatory use of helmets for two-wheeler riders, seat belts for all car occupants, and zero tolerance for drunk driving and overspeeding. The public’s enthusiastic response and participation were hailed as a strong foundation for building a culture of road safety through the medium of art and celebration.
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