Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan Telethon 2026: Turning care into collective responsibility

Sadak se Suraksha Abhiyan

What began in 2023 as a simple, deeply caring thought for people has today grown into a powerful national movement. Under the leadership of Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan 2026 telethon renewed its commitment to its core mission: Safe Roadways for All. What started as a niche initiative has now reached its fourth successive edition, with each passing year strengthening it further.

This year’s telethon continued with its theme of ‘Parvaah se Kartavya tak,’ emphasising that it is not only a choice but a duty to protect others while driving on the road. The Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan 2026 is built around four main pillars: Discipline (Kayda), Duty (Kartavya), Shield (Kavach), and Change (Kranti).

Opening the telethon, Amitabh Bachchan spoke about how progress is impossible without discipline and a sense of duty. He emphasised that road safety cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires collective responsibility, where respect for rules is rooted in shared values, discipline becomes a natural part of daily life, and duty towards each other defines behaviour on the road. According to him, only when these values are deeply ingrained can the dream of a safer and more responsible India become reality.

Further, Shri Nitin Gadkari highlighted MoRTH and NHAI’s key initiatives to enhance road and highway safety. This includes large-scale safety audits, improved highway infrastructure, intelligent traffic systems, and strict compliance for commercial and personal vehicles. At a more detailed level, truck cabins are being equipped with air conditioning and drowsiness alert systems to prevent accidents due to drowsiness, and every two-wheeler sold must have two approved helmets, thereby promoting shared responsibility for safety.

Adding a personal touch to the conversations, Actor Alia Bhatt talked about how responsible behaviour on the road is not just about one’s own safety. She also reflected on the idea that our actions affect others and the next generation, and how love and care for our families often lead us to be safe on the roads, thereby making it a moral responsibility. Championing this thought further, Actor Vicky Kaushal spoke about the importance of emotional control while driving, emphasizing that one should never try to overtake while driving due to ego.

Additionally, several other prominent voices from the creative world also added depth to the telethon. Actor Kay Kay Menon spoke about attitude and awareness, while National-Award winning lyricist Swanand Kirkire highlighted how actions on the road silently educate the next generation. Taking this notch ahead, music composer and singer Shankar Mahadevan who composed the SSA Anthem in 22 languages, spoke about the emotional power of music to make road safety messages truly resonate.

Adding a new dimension of creativity, The Anirudh Varma Collective delivered road safety messages in a musical form that evokes feelings of empathy, discipline, and shared responsibility within people. The musical performance by them translated the core values of the campaign into a memorable experience.

The telethon also brought together influential voices from across industries who have been actively supporting the initiative. Ravin Mirchandani, Chairperson, Ador Powertron, highlighted the growing role of technology and AI-driven solutions in improving road safety, emphasising how data-led insights, intelligent systems, and consistent communication can help anticipate risks and influence behaviour.

Dr. Eilia Jafar, Chief of Programs at SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF), emphasised the need for creating informed choices to mitigate the risks on the road. Dr Jafar also elaborated on SLF’s zero-fatality solutions (ZFS) which are now, in collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), being scaled nationally across 100 most high-risk highways and expressways (Zero-Fatality Corridor) and districts (Zero-Fatality Districts) programmes. Alex Kuruvilla, Trustee, SaveLIFE Foundation, highlighted the need for creating sustained awareness and communicating the same to create responsible road behavior. Content Creator Chatori Rajni talked about her personal loss to connect with the audience, thus making the message more relatable on the issue of road safety.

Apart from this, a powerful highlight of the telethon was the Raah-Veer felicitation, where ordinary citizens who displayed extraordinary courage on India’s roads were honoured. These Raah-Veers stepped in at critical junctures to help accident victims, often going out of their way to ensure the safety of others, even at the cost of their own. Their experiences were the embodiment of the concept of kartavya, which linked road safety with the values of humanity and empathy.

As the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan 2026 telethon concluded, the message was clear: safer roads are not created by systems or laws, but by people who practice discipline, display concern, and demonstrate responsibility. It is only when concern turns into duty, and awareness turns into action, that the road to a safer and more responsible India begins. Join the initiative and take responsibility for creating safer roads for everyone!