Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Road Safety Action Plan for Tamil Nadu
Date: 25.03.2025
Venue: Chennai
Speakers: Mr. Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru, IAS, Transport Commissioner (Tamil Nadu)
Ms. Nidhi Singh, Additional Commissioner (Road Safety) (Rajasthan)
Mr. Krishnan Srinivasan, Senior Transport Consultant, The World Bank
Chennai has a complex transportation system with a mix of buses, rail, metro, autos, taxis, and all the other private transport means. The public network systems, while vast, are not always tied in efficiently, meaning that commuters are often left with lags in their journeys as they switch modes (for example from a Metro train to a bus). To make these crossovers easy and painless, Chennai’s fleet of autorickshaws and taxis should be able to step in the gap, at least in part, operating as first and last mile connectivity agents.
The emergence of smartphones has transformed public transportation in cities such as Chennai. Commuters now have access to various digital tools, such as the MTC’s Chennai Bus Application, to enhance their daily commutes. This report seeks to evaluate how effectively the MTC’s Chennai Bus Application supports its users in their everyday lives and to identify potential improvements for the future.
Road accident deaths in India continue to rise, leading to significant loss of lives and considerable impact on the economy. In 2023 alone, 18,347 road deaths were reported in Tamil Nadu. Beyond loss of life, road accidents impose significant economic burdens on victims and their families, including medical costs and lost productivity. These challenges are particularly acute for low- and middle-income families.
The United Nations established the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) in 2005, designating the third Sunday of November each year as a day to honour those killed or injured on the roads, along with their families, friends, and communities. Given the alarming rate of road crashes in India, this observance is particularly significant for Indian road users. With the right measures, many of these tragic incidents could have been prevented and this day serves as a reminder for collective responsibility in creating safer roads.
Mobility plays an integral part in our day to day lives. Whether it's commuting to work, running errands, or visiting loved ones, our ability to move freely and efficiently shapes our lives and enhances our quality of it. Public and private transport modes are two broad categories that contribute to the movement necessary for a smoothly functioning society. With technological advancement we are able to choose from a diverse range of public transport modes such as trains, buses, metros and paratransit, making our commutes more convenient and sustainable.
CAG's survey in Chennai highlights the everyday challenges faced by livelihood cyclists. Cyclists reported a stark lack of safe cycle paths and parking facilities. Better infrastructure and courteous motorists will go a long way to creating safer spaces for our cyclists.
According to Chennai’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan 2019, the modal share of private automobiles increased from 2008 to 2018 while that of walk/cycle/public transport decreased.
