Project Dhurandhar: A Citizen-Led Movement Redefining Road Safety in India

India’s road safety crisis is no longer just a statistic. With over 1.5 lakh lives lost every year, the conversation around accidents is shifting from infrastructure to human behaviour. At the heart of this shift is Project Dhurandhar, a powerful road safety initiative that is driving a new narrative rooted in behavioural change, citizen responsibility, and collective accountability.

Founded by Dr Saurabh Talekar, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Hip, Knee and Spine Specialist, Project Dhurandhar was born out of firsthand exposure to trauma cases. For medical professionals like him and his team, road accidents are not numbers, they are lived realities seen in emergency rooms every day. What stood out was a pattern. Most of these incidents were preventable.

This realisation led to the creation of a movement that focuses not just on rules, but on mindset. Project Dhurandhar aims to instil self discipline in driving, encouraging individuals to take ownership of road safety rather than relying solely on enforcement systems.

The initiative operates through structured and interactive workshops conducted across colleges, corporate organisations, and community groups. These sessions go beyond conventional awareness campaigns. Participants are exposed to real life medical insights from trauma cases, helping them understand the irreversible consequences of reckless behaviour.

What makes these workshops unique is their focus on behavioural transformation. Instead of simply listing traffic rules, the sessions dive deep into the psychology of risk taking, lack of accountability, and the casual attitude many individuals adopt on the road.

At the end of each session, participants take a Road Safety Pledge, committing to responsible driving practices. They are also awarded a Road Safety Champion Certificate, encouraging them to share their commitment publicly and influence others within their networks.

Technology plays a key role in amplifying the initiative’s impact. Project Dhurandhar actively promotes the use of the Maharashtra Traffic Police App, enabling citizens to report violations and support enforcement efforts. This integration of digital tools ensures that road safety becomes a participatory process rather than a passive expectation.

The team is also working on automated systems for pledge collection and certificate generation, making it easier to scale the initiative across larger audiences.

Behind the movement is a diverse and committed leadership team. Alongside Dr Talekar are professionals like Dr Chinmay Kulkarni, a psychiatrist bringing insights into behavioural patterns, Dr Lester Pereira, an orthopaedic surgeon with extensive clinical experience, and Dr Sagar Patel, who combines medical knowledge with entrepreneurial thinking.

The project is further strengthened by contributors like Eshika Dey, a recognised actor from the Hindi, Bengali, and international film industries, who adds a powerful voice to the cause through her public influence. Adding strong grassroots support is Mr Ghanshyam Parab, a dedicated social worker, who plays an important role in community outreach and citizen engagement.

Other key members include Dr Virendra Koli, Dr Sachin Pisal, Dr Raj Kumar Pal, and Prof Atul Pawar, whose academic leadership helps connect with young audiences. Supporting them is Shobhana Talekar, a physical education teacher with 35 years of experience, bringing grassroots engagement into the initiative.

Together, this team has created a growing community of responsible road users known as Dhurandhars. These individuals are not just participants but advocates who actively promote road safety awareness within their circles.

The impact so far has been promising. Multiple workshops have been successfully conducted, with strong participation from educational institutions and increasing engagement across digital platforms. More importantly, the initiative is beginning to influence behaviour, which is the most critical metric of success.

Looking ahead, the vision of Project Dhurandhar is clear. It aims to build a culture where road safety is driven by empathy, discipline, and shared responsibility, ultimately reducing preventable road trauma.

As India continues to grow and urbanise, initiatives like this are not just necessary, they are urgent. Project Dhurandhar is a reminder that safer roads are not created by rules alone, but by people who choose to follow them.

Drive Responsible. Prevent Trauma.