To enhance road safety and animal welfare, the Odisha government has launched a comprehensive action plan to address the growing threat of stray cattle on highways and urban roads.
Chaired by Principal Secretary of the Commerce & Transport Department, Smt. Usha Padhee, the high-level meeting outlined a mission-mode strategy aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities caused by animal-vehicle collisions.
According to official data, Odisha recorded 952 accidents and 521 deaths in 2022, 1,168 accidents and 643 deaths in 2023, and 903 accidents with 437 fatalities in 2024—all linked to stray cattle incidents. Additionally, 331 animals were killed in vehicle collisions between 2022 and August 2025.
The plan includes fencing accident-prone stretches, strengthening existing goshalas, and establishing controlled cattle crossings. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will collaborate with NHAI and NGOs, supported by the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD) Department, to implement sheltering and monitoring systems. Public awareness campaigns and mobile veterinary units will also be deployed.
Smt. Padhee emphasized that stray cattle are not just a civic inconvenience but a serious safety hazard. “Odisha is committed to a humane, technology-driven approach that protects lives and respects animals,” she said.
The meeting was attended by Transport Commissioner Shri Amitabh Thakur, Director Municipal Administration Shri Arindam Dakua, Director Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Shri Vijay Amruta Kulange, and representatives from NHAI and Odisha Police.
