Discrepancy in data on road accidents by minors provided by Union govt in Rajya Sabha: Report
New Delhi: A discrepancy has emerged between the road accident data provided by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the figures reported by the Tamil Nadu state government regarding accidents caused by minors.
The data presented by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in a written response in the Rajya Sabha on March 19 claimed that Tamil Nadu, based on the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) system, recorded the highest number of road accidents involving minors from 2023 to 2024, with 2,063 cases, as reported by The Hindu.
However, the Tamil Nadu police, upon verifying the figures from the iRAD system, found that only 473 accidents caused by minors were recorded in Tamil Nadu during the same period. These included 204 accidents in 2023 and 269 in 2024.
A senior official from the Traffic and Road Safety wing of the State Director General of Police questioned the accuracy of the Union government's data, remarking, "Where is 200 and where is 2,000? Clearly, there is an error here."
State data showed that the total number of challans issued to guardians and parents of juveniles stood at 41 in 2023 and 80 in 2024. However, Bihar topped the country in this regard, issuing 1,316 challans and collecting a revenue of Rs 44.27 lakh.
The iRAD system receives data through the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), which is part of the Tamil Nadu Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), The Hindu report stated while quoting the official.
Furthermore, the official noted a 17% decrease in fatal road accidents in Tamil Nadu during the first two months of 2025. The state recorded 2,576 fatal accidents resulting in 2,678 deaths in January and February 2025, a drop from the 3,110 fatal accidents and 3,253 deaths in the same period in 2024, the report added.
A senior official from the Transport and Road Safety Commissionerate also highlighted that Tamil Nadu was the only state in India with a policy to suspend driving licenses for not wearing wear helmets and seat belts. This policy is in addition to the six traffic violations listed by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety that could lead to a driving license suspension: over speeding, overloading, drunk driving, mobile phone usage while driving, jumping red lights, and overloading passengers in goods carriages.
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Vijayan accuses Centre of adopting negative stand towards Kerala
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Kasaragod (Kerala) (PTI): Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday made a scathing attack against the Centre, accusing it of wanting to see the 'destruction' of the southern state and adopting a negative approach towards its efforts to survive during time of difficulties.
The state had to face several challenges in recent times including the worst flood of the century and the landslide tragedy that had rocked Wayanad, he said.
Unfortunately, the Centre, which has the responsibility to support the state and help it to survive, has provided no assistance at any stage, the CM alleged while inaugurating the fourth anniversary celebrations of the LDF government in this northernmost district.
"The Centre has adopted a completely negative approach in this matter. They even tried to block the assistance offered by others using their power," he alleged.
"Let Kerala shatter...shatter more. The union government was led by that destructive mindset," Vijayan further charged.
The Left veteran further said when the state suffered the massive deluge years ago, the entire world thought how it would survive the impacts of the natural disaster.
However, both the country and the world have got amused at the way the state survived it, he claimed.
"How could we survive like this? There is only one reason for this. The unity of our state and its people. It has become our strength to survive all difficulties and challenges," he said.
Though the Centre has wished for the "destruction" of Kerala and adopted a negative stand for the same, Kerala has not been shattered, Vijayan further said.
The same union government even had to give many awards to the state recognising it's achievements in various fields and acknowledging that it is number one in the country in those areas.
During his address, Vijayan also listed out various achievements of his government under its consecutive rules and development initiatives implemented it during the period.
He asked what would be the condition of Kerala if the LDF government had not come to power in 2016 and if it had not receive the people's mandate to continue in 2021 as well.
Over 4.5 lakh houses have been handed over to deserving beneficiaries under the government's ambitious LIFE Mission project, he said adding that four lakh title deeds have been distributed.
The arrears of welfare pension have been cleared and the amount has been enhanced, the CM further mentioned.
On national highway development, he said Kerala has now become a state which can equally boast of natural beauty and infrastructure development.
"There is only a picture of change and advancement everywhere in the state now," the Chief Minister added.
Besides Vijayan, various cabinet ministers were also present during the inauguration of the government's fourth anniversary celebrations.
The government, earlier, announced that its fourth anniversary would be celebrated from April 21 to May 23, with district- and state-level events.
However, opposition UDF boycotted the event alleging extravaganza at a time when the state is reeling under acute financial crunch.
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