Jaipur: Rajasthan had more than Rs 716 crore available for improving road safety, but less than half of the money was spent by 2024-25 even as the state continued to grapple with road accidents and deaths, a CAG audit has found.Of the Rs 716.37 crore available in Road Safety Fund, only Rs 343.36 crore was utilised, leaving Rs 373.01 crore unspent, according to the audit.The money was meant for measures such as electronic enforcement devices, automatic number plate recognition and speed-detection cameras, automated driving tracks, traffic parks and equipment for trauma centres. Several such projects remained pending despite funds being available, CAG said.The finding is significant in the wake of several devastating road accidents in Rajasthan. In its reporting on these crashes, TOI quoted police officials who said a lack of funds was hampering efforts to modernise traffic enforcement and improve road-safety infrastructure.The CAG audit, however, found that a substantial amount was lying unused in Road Safety Fund and flagged delays in projects intended to strengthen enforcement and improve road safety.This comes as a rude shock, as in previous major accidents, the district administration and the police had maintained that they did not have sufficient funds to undertake the necessary steps.
