Retired Civil Servants Revive Road Safety Group At Spencer Plaza

Last week, a group of retired civil servants revived the 'Society for the Prevention of Road Accidents' (SPRA) during an event at the Spencer Plaza atrium in Chennai to combat the state's high rate of road fatalities. The public safety initiative aims to address weak regulations, poor driver training, and faulty licensing systems in Tamil Nadu, which accounts for 10 percent of India's 150,000 annual road deaths.

The organization was originally founded in 2022 by Chennai-based banker and philanthropist Ravi Garyali, who studied the system after losing close relatives in road mishaps. Following his death in 2025, his sister and retired senior IAS officer, C K Garyali, stepped in to form a new board of trustees to carry forward his vision.

The newly formed board comprises former civil servants, police officers, and social workers. Former bureaucrat Jayanthi serves as the patron, while distinguished police officer Archana Ramasundaram has taken charge as president. Vita Garyali, wife of the late founder, is the vice president, and environmental activist Dipankar Ghose serves as the secretary.

As part of the revival initiative, SPRA collaborated with private entities Equitas and CAMS to conduct a free eye camp for drivers at the Madhavaram truck terminus. A medical team from Sankara Nethralya, led by optometrist Janani, conducted checkups and found several drivers with severely impaired vision. Under the CSR initiative, Equitas will provide free spectacles and hospital referrals for those requiring surgeries.

At the founder's day event, which was attended by Chennai Commissioner of Police A Amalraj, secretary Dipankar Ghose introduced a plan to use road safety comic strips to educate motorists. Ghose shared a vintage Burmah Shell comic book from his school days to illustrate how the medium will be adapted to depict modern-day traffic misadventures.

SPRA plans to collaborate with traffic wardens, driving schools, and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to raise awareness. The organization's future goals include working with government authorities to improve road signages, enforce speed limits, and advocate for the health and training of commercial drivers.