J&K ROAD SAFETY POLICY 2025

The rising number of vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir has caused traffic congestion, road safety, and environmental issues. The Union Territory has approximately 22.66 lakh registered automobiles, making a well-structured and comprehensive policy to handle these concerns more important than ever. Recognizing the urgency of the problem, the Jammu and Kashmir Road Safety Policy 2025 is a multi-pronged strategy to reduce traffic congestion, improve public transport, and reduce road fatalities. This policy is crucial as automobile accidents are rising, killing hundreds each year. In 2022, J&K had 6,092 road accidents and 805 deaths. In 2023, 6,298 accidents and 893 deaths occurred. A staggering 40% of these accidents have been reported from districts like Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, and Kathua, making it imperative for the administration to adopt a decisive strategy to curb this crisis.

The new strategy aims to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities by 50% by 2030, consistent with worldwide road safety standards. The government has prioritized road infrastructure, traffic enforcement, and safer driving to achieve this. Data will be used to map accident-prone locations, known as black spots, as part of the policy. The District Road Development Committees (DRDCs) will evaluate high-risk areas biannually and take corrective action within six months. Poor road design, signage, and traffic management cause many accidents; thus this systematic approach addresses them. The strategy also stresses the need for strict accountability measures to hold contractors and consultants accountable for poor road construction and maintenance. Blacklisting defaulters paves the way for better infrastructure quality control. Parking management remains a critical concern that contributes to congestion in urban areas, and the policy brings much-needed reform to this sector. Development authorities have been directed to create additional parking spaces to accommodate the growing number of vehicles. Furthermore, a crucial regulation mandates that vehicle owners must ensure parking availability before purchasing a new vehicle. To discourage the misuse of public roads for private parking, municipal and development authorities have been empowered to introduce roadside parking charges, structured to increase progressively with time. This initiative not only aims to decongest key roadways but also encourages responsible vehicle ownership and utilization of dedicated parking zones. Complementing this effort is the government’s push to strengthen and modernize the public transport system. An effective, reliable, and affordable public transport network can significantly reduce the dependence on private vehicles, thereby easing congestion and lowering accident rates. The policy envisions the promotion of mass transit systems, including an increased fleet of buses, improved last-mile connectivity, and a seamless ticketing mechanism to encourage commuters to shift from private to public transport. In a groundbreaking move, the government has also committed to formulating a Non-Motorized Transport Policy for J&K, ensuring the safety and rights of pedestrians and cyclists. The increasing vehicular density has marginalized non-motorized road users, putting them at greater risk. By integrating dedicated pedestrian pathways, cycling tracks, and smart mobility solutions, the policy aims to create a more inclusive urban transportation landscape. This not only enhances road safety but also promotes eco-friendly modes of commuting, contributing to sustainability goals. The implementation of this initiative will require close coordination between various departments, including the transport, urban development, and municipal bodies, along with active public participation. A print, electronic, and social media awareness campaign on traffic rules, safe driving, and road accident repercussions is required by the new policy. Speeding, reckless driving, and intoxicated driving, which cause most road fatalities, can be deterred by a well-trained and staffed police agency. Hills and accident-prone areas where inadequate road width, blind curves, and absence of barriers cause deadly accidents will be prioritized. The effectiveness of adopted measures will be audited regularly, with rapid remedial steps if appropriate. Smart traffic management technologies, GPS-enabled fleet monitoring, and AI-powered predictive analytics will all be looked into to improve traffic flow and reduce road accidents. While the policy sets forth an ambitious roadmap, its success largely hinges on efficient execution and active public cooperation. Road safety is a shared responsibility that extends beyond government agencies to include civil society, vehicle manufacturers, transport operators, and individual commuters.

With the introduction of the Road Safety Policy 2025, the administration has laid the foundation for a transformative shift in traffic management and road safety culture. However, policies alone cannot bring about the desired change unless they are backed by diligent enforcement, infrastructural enhancements, and widespread public awareness. As the UT moves forward with its vision of reducing accidents and fatalities by half by 2030, the collective effort of policymakers, enforcement agencies, and the public will determine the success of this initiative. The coming years will be crucial in evaluating the tangible impact of the measures outlined in the policy, and if implemented with consistency and accountability, Jammu and Kashmir can set a benchmark for road safety reforms in the country.