₹60-Crore Mega Initiative to Blend Road Safety Training, Environmental Education and EV Awareness Across the State
Mumbai, May 8, 2026: In a major step toward reducing road accidents and promoting traffic discipline from an early age the Government of Maharashtra has announced an ambitious plan to establish 60 state-of-the-art ‘Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Traffic Gardens’ across the state. The initiative unveiled by Pratap Sarnaik, aims to revolutionize road safety education by creating interactive learning parks where children and citizens can experience real-life traffic situations in a safe and controlled environment.
Dedicated to the memory of Dharmaveer Anand Dighe, the project is expected to cost nearly ₹60 crore, with each district receiving at least one Traffic Garden developed over approximately one acre of land at an estimated cost of ₹1 crore.
Mini Smart Cities Designed for Traffic Education
The Traffic Gardens will replicate real-world urban road systems with miniature roads, traffic signals, zebra crossings, directional signboards, roundabouts, and pedestrian zones.
Children and students visiting the parks will be trained using mini electric vehicles and model transport systems to help them understand traffic rules through practical learning rather than classroom theory alone. Officials believe this immersive approach will help build road discipline habits at a young age and significantly improve long-term traffic behavior among future drivers.
Green Parks With Rare Trees and Environmental Awareness
In a unique blend of safety education and environmental conservation, the Traffic Gardens will also function as eco-learning parks. The facilities will showcase rare indigenous tree species from different parts of India, along with educational displays explaining their ecological and environmental importance. The government says the dual-purpose parks are intended to promote both responsible driving and environmental awareness among children and families.
Dedicated EV Zones and Driver Training Tracks Planned
As part of Maharashtra’s future mobility vision, the gardens will include dedicated Electric Vehicle (EV) awareness zones to educate visitors about sustainable transportation technologies and their benefits. The parks will also feature professional driving trial tracks designed for learner training and practical driving-license tests, making them useful for both educational institutions and transport authorities.
Schools to Get Special Access; Public Entry Also Planned
According to the proposal, schools across Maharashtra will receive dedicated time slots for organized educational visits, while the parks will remain open to the general public for recreation and awareness activities. Local municipal corporations and civic bodies will be responsible for maintaining the facilities and managing operations through nominal entry fees. Officials say the project represents a long-term investment in public safety, civic discipline, and sustainable urban awareness.
Maharashtra Targets Safer Roads Through Early Education
With rising road accident concerns across India, the Maharashtra government believes the ‘Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Traffic Gardens’ could become a model for experiential road safety education nationwide. By combining technology, practical learning, environmental consciousness, and modern infrastructure, the state aims to cultivate a generation of disciplined, safety-conscious, and environmentally responsible citizens.
