Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Odisha has rolled out a statewide action plan to tackle the stray cattle menace. The move aims to create safer roads, cleaner cities, and better livestock management. Authorities will provide proper shelter, healthcare, and stricter monitoring of cattle to reduce urban chaos and improve public safety.
Today, Principal Secretary of the Commerce & Transport Department, Smt Usha Padhee, chaired a high-level meeting to finalize the integrated plan. Officials agreed to focus on protecting human lives, managing stray cattle, and enhancing road safety across Odisha.
Stray cattle remain a major cause of road accidents and fatalities. In 2022, the state reported 952 accidents and 521 deaths linked to animal-vehicle collisions. The number rose in 2023 with 1,168 accidents and 643 deaths. The following year, 903 accidents claimed 437 lives. Between 2022 and August 2025 alone, 331 animals also died in such collisions. These figures underline the urgent need for coordinated action.
Officials proposed a mission-mode strategy linking NHAI stretches with nearby Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The plan covers fencing, cattle-control measures, and improved sheltering in goshalas. Accident-prone stretches will receive priority, while existing goshalas will be strengthened. NGOs will collaborate with the state, supported by the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD) Department. Controlled cattle crossings, proper signage, and public awareness drives will improve accountability.
Smt Padhee said, “Stray cattle on roads threaten both public safety and animal welfare. Odisha is adopting a coordinated, humane, and technology-driven approach to safeguard commuters while respecting animal dignity.”
The new model combines fencing, signage, cattle grids, enforcement through impounding and penalties, mobile veterinary units, and strong institutional mechanisms. Together, these measures aim to make Odisha’s roads safer for both people and animals.
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 senior representatives from NHAI and Odisha Police.
Also Read : Odisha Obesity Awareness Day celebrated with public initiatives
